Chelsea Legend Unleashes Fury After Being Snubbed for Manager Role
Chelsea icon and former captain John Terry has disclosed that he was deliberately overlooked for any opportunity to take charge of the first team at Stamford Bridge when the club searched for a temporary manager following Enzo Maresca's dismissal and before Liam Rosenior's hiring.
Terry has been working within Chelsea's youth system since summer 2023, following previous senior coaching positions as assistant to Dean Smith at Leicester City and Aston Villa. The former defender has remained reserved about his personal managerial aspirations but recently admitted feeling "frustrated" about missing the opportunity to lead his childhood club, even temporarily.
Chelsea opted for Under-21 manager Calum McFarlane immediately after Maresca's departure on New Year's Day. The ex-Manchester City and Southampton coach brought several members of his youth team staff with him. Terry's exclusion was notably apparent.
"Being present at the club and part of the Under-21 setup when they handled the Manchester City match, I wasn't contacted or included," Terry explained to Jimmy Bullard on GOLF LIFE. "I wasn't angry, but definitely frustrated since I was certainly part of that Under-21 group that traveled.
"Even if I wasn't leading the team—Calum managed the side, performed excellently and secured a positive result—I believe I should have been involved."
McFarlane's debut in senior management came against Manchester City under Pep Guardiola, a manager boasting 12 top-division championships and over 450 victories at the highest level. However, football's unpredictable nature meant McFarlane and Guardiola finished as equals after a 1–1 stalemate.
"I'm feeling positive, staying composed," the 40-year-old commented post-match. Terry attempted to maintain similar composure after expressing his disappointment.
"Look, decisions need to be made," he continued, "I appreciate when people make clear choices: 'Yes or no.' Obviously, the ownership, sporting directors, whoever makes those calls, decided 'No,' excluding me for reasons unknown to me."
John Terry Not Swayed by Frank Lampard Warning
John Terry Not Swayed by Frank Lampard Warning
Terry wouldn't have been the first club legend appointed under Chelsea's BlueCo ownership. When the Blues previously needed a temporary solution, Frank Lampard received the opportunity.
The club's record goalscorer possessed considerably more coaching experience than his former colleague—including 18 months managing at Stamford Bridge under Roman Abramovich's previous ownership—and guided the team to 12th place in 2022–23.
Lampard's permanent appointment was never considered, appearing to be a mutual understanding. "I witnessed things I know aren't acceptable in elite football, that's the reality," the current Coventry City manager told Sky Sports News last March.
"I didn't enjoy that brief period because it's difficult to implement ideas when you know you're departing, but Chelsea will forever hold significance in my life.
"Understanding Chelsea's standards—during that time many players were potentially leaving with various issues and motivation concerns—in an interim role you can't truly address that.
"Seeing the outcomes, I'm seasoned enough to recognize what's correct and incorrect regarding fundamental training ground and pitch matters.
"I didn't gain tactical knowledge but it reinforced my convictions from all my experiences about recognizing when a squad is genuinely united in purpose—the strength that brings versus the challenges when it's absent."
Terry evidently hadn't taken Lampard's cautionary advice to heart.
'Something Missing'—Liam Rosenior's Reign Undermined by Blues Icon
'Something Missing'—Liam Rosenior's Reign Undermined by Blues Icon
Rosenior was eventually chosen as Maresca's permanent successor, observing McFarlane's second and final match from the stands as Chelsea fell 2–1 to Fulham. The youth coach impressed sufficiently during his temporary stint to secure a position on Rosenior's coaching staff, another development that likely irritates Terry.
John Obi Mikel, a former Chelsea teammate of both Terry and Lampard who claimed every possible honor during his 11-year stint in west London, remains thoroughly unconvinced by Rosenior's early tenure.
"Liam has arrived and secured victories, but there's definitely something absent," he stated on his The Obi One Podcast. "Something isn't quite correct."
What exactly Mikel finds deficient in Rosenior's 12 matches—which have yielded just two losses, both against league leaders Arsenal—remains unclear. This strong position likely stems from the midfielder's passionate belief that Maresca should never have been dismissed.
"We had Enzo Maresca. I've stated it before, I believe sacking him was a huge error. It's absolutely absurd," Mikel expressed angrily. "A manager who delivered the Club World Cup, secured the Conference League, gave us some playing identity. We progressed, and now we've regressed significantly."
It seems BlueCo weren't prepared to journey far enough into nostalgia to appoint Terry.