John Terry Returns to Chelsea Academy After Leicester City Stint
Chelsea legend John Terry has confirmed his shock return to Stamford Bridge, less than a month after his stint with Leicester City. The 42-year-old former England skipper returned to Chelsea in a coaching consultancy role in 2022 before joining Dean Smith’s backroom staff at Leicester in April this year. Terry’s contract at Leicester was not renewed following the side’s relegation from the English top flight.
“I’m delighted to be back Home working in the academy and continuing my role at the club,” Terry, who started his coaching career in 2018 as an assistant manager at Aston Villa, said in an Instagram post. The former defender and five-time Premier League champion won every major trophy during his 19-year stint at Stamford Bridge, making him Chelsea’s most successful captain.
Terry returns to west London with Mauricio Pochettino now at the helm and his rebuilding project firmly underway. The former Spurs boss was officially unveiled on Friday and was keen to stress the need for unity following a chaotic 18 months which has seen the club’s new ownership take a very public role in a scattergun recruitment policy that left Pochettino’s predecessor, Graham Potter, in an almost impossible situation.
Pochettino said he felt it was his responsibility to create the kind of culture where people clearly understand their place and function in the wider collective. “We need to understand that they own the football club,” he said when asked whether the hierarchy would be welcome on his watch to address the players post-match. “We need to respect that. The thing is to talk about how we need to behave because that is an important thing.”
The Argentine also expressed his willingness to welcome the club’s owners into the dressing room, but stressed that he must be informed beforehand and that he is ultimately responsible for setting the tone of the team. “The manager has some influence in all football clubs, for the fans, for the players, for the staff and the media. Altogether we need to create this. We are there to guide all the people that are involved in this football club, to try to create the best atmosphere and try to work and perform in the best way.”
John Terry’s return to Chelsea is a welcome sight for Blues fans, who will be hoping that his experience and knowledge can help guide the team through this period of transition. With Mauricio Pochettino at the helm and a new-look squad, Chelsea are looking to build on their recent successes and reclaim their place among Europe’s elite clubs. Terry’s return will no doubt be a boost for the team as they look to make their mark on the Premier League once again.