With Chelsea captain John Terry’s future at the club cast into doubt, the Blues manager has said that the 35-year-old can become a manager at the club some time in the future.
Terry had come out in the press earlier this year to reveal that the club have decided not to renew his contract, and that he could be leaving Chelsea at the end of the season when his deal with the West London side runs out.
There has been a lot of speculation over Terry’s future, with the most popular opinion among the Chelsea fans being that the former England captain could come back as the manager of club. Current caretaker manager Guus Hiddink believes that Terry indeed can take up the top job at Chelsea one day.
“Can he become Chelsea manager? Not in one or two years, but of course. Most of the time it’s good to go and be an assistant first, getting the experience from the other side,” Hiddink was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror. “Some players think they can do it overnight. I doubt they can.”
However, with regards to Terry’s current predicament, Hiddink feels that the Chelsea captain should continue playing for as long as possible, even if it means not playing at a club where he is already considered as one of the greatest legends.
“If you love the game – and he does – play as long as possible. Being a manager is okay, but it’s more or less a substitute for being a player,” said Hiddink. “Playing is the most beautiful thing you can experience if you love the game. So try and play as long as possible until they say: ‘Hey, grandfather. Please leave the pitch now.’”
What next for Terry?
In spite of all the rumours about Terry’s future, the 35-year-old may still end up staying at Chelsea, if the club’s next manager wishes to have him in his squad. The rumours suggest that Antonio Conte is going to be Chelsea’s manager from the next season.
Conte likes to play three at the back, which means that he prefers defenders who have pace. Terry has often been criticised for lacking speed, which is why Chelsea do not generally play a high line. It is difficult to see the former England captain fitting into Conte’s system, which is why we could see an exit for him, if the Italian takes over.
Of course if he does not stay at Chelsea, there’s always the option of switching over to the Major League Soccer in the United States, something that many ageing football stars have done in recent years. The most notable examples among them are ex-Arsenal striker Thierry Henry, former Barcelona star David Villa, and Terry’s former Chelsea and England teammate Frank Lampard.
Yet another option that has propped up in the recent years is the cash-rich Chinese Super League, which has been attracting a number of top players from across the globe. It would be interesting to see what Terry decides at the end of what seems likely to be a completely disastrous season for Chelsea.
