John Terry to leave Chelsea at the end of the season / Image by SoccerNews.com
One-club football players have become the rarest commodity in modern-day game and with the news of John Terry’s imminent departure from Chelsea at the end of the 2016/17 season, the species in extinction will have been left without a standout specimen.
Gloried Career
A glittering career for the man who became synonymous with the Stamford Bridge club is coming to the end of a chapter with John Terry and Chelsea announcing this week that the Blues captain is set to leave at the turn of the season.
Remarkable 22 years of service have seen the former England international win 14 major honours with the club, establishing himself as the most decorated player in Chelsea’s history.
With a wide smile on his face, an even wider formal epauleted coat he probably took for the occasion from his father, young John Terry signed his first-ever contract at Stamford Bridge back in 1996, before making his debut three years later in a League Cup match against Aston Villa.
It was at the beginning of the millennium when John Terry scored his first-ever goal for Chelsea, in the FA Cup match against Gillingham in 2000 – the year Chelsea went on to win the trophy in the last final ever to be played at the old Wembley.
It was in the same year that John Terry was loaned out to Nottingham Forest to build up the first-team experience, but mere six matches were enough for the Blues to recall their man who sparked plenty of interest in the country at the time.
The Blues sent a strong message to suitors that John Terry is at Chelsea to stay as they went on to make him a valuable first-team member in 2000/01 season when young John Terry was voted club’s player of the year after 23 starts in a Blues shirt.
From that moment onwards, John Terry built up his career of a relentless defender who has been described as a strong and tenacious football player throughout his career. Dominating commanding abilities have made John Terry a huge presence in Chelsea box, whereas his physical strength, aerial ability, aggressive tackling and fantastic game reading made him a world-class defender.
Universally considered as one of the greatest central defenders of his generation, John Terry has arguably been Premier League’s most consistent centre-backs during the past 15 years.
Silverware and honours are there to confirm it as John Terry ponders on his next move away from Stamford Bridge.
Future
Summer will undoubtedly bring plenty of emotion as with Mr Chelsea already packing his bags.
Despite being 36 years old, John Terry is stirring plenty of interest both domestically and internationally and there is hardly a team in the world that wouldn’t want to take Chelsea captain, who still has a couple of years at the top ahead of him.
An MLS switch and a China move are off the table for John Terry who is believed to be keen to remain in England once he leaves Chelsea. West Brom and Stoke City have emerged as instant favourites to land the England defender, but the Times suggests that Terry would like to remain in London, which is shedding a different light on his possible next destination.
Bournemouth and Crystal Palace have both been tipped to make a move for the 36-year-old defender and the Cherries are even made the bookies’ favourites at 15/8 betting odds to sign the Chelsea defender.
A more symbolic move is on the cards as well as John Terry could be offered to complete a full circle in his glorified career.
After making his initial football steps at Senrab F.C. – a Sunday League football teams from Wanstead Flats – John Terry moved to West Ham United, where his youth career officially kicked off.
A Hammers’ member for four years before his move to Chelsea, John Terry is believed to be eyed by Slaven Bilic, who refused to rule out a move for the Chelsea captain in the summer.
Possible move to West Ham would allow Terry to make another emotional switch and continue to compete at the highest level.
Where to next for Mr Chelsea?
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