John Terry turned down two management offers as he doubles down Chelsea job claim

Jun 25, 2026 - 18:45

John Terry has ruled out becoming a manager, but insisted he should’ve been given a chance as Chelsea’s interim boss last season.

The legendary ex-Blues captain was twice snubbed for the role – first following the departure of Enzo Maresca in January, and then again when Liam Rosenior was dismissed in April.

John Terry of Chelsea watches on from the stands during the Premier League 2 match between Chelsea U21 v Manchester City U21 — Terry has made no secret of his ambitions to manage Chelsea one day

On both occasions, Terry was overlooked in favour of Under-21s manager Calum McFarlane.

Terry, who is also involved in a coaching role with the Chelsea academy, was not called up to be part of McFarlane’s staff for either of his interim stints.

The Stamford Bridge icon has made no secret of his disappointment, venting his frustrations at the time, and more recently.

With Xabi Alonso since appointed as Chelsea’s new manager, Terry told talkSPORT’s Simon Jordan that while he doesn’t feel he should’ve been considered for this role, he deserved a chance on a short-term basis.

‘No one more Chelsea’

Days after Terry revisited his thoughts on the Blues interim job, he has now doubled down on this view.

Having led Chelsea to five Premier League titles as well as Champions League glory in over 700 appearances for the club, the former defender insisted no one was more qualified than him for the role.

He told talkSPORT’s White and Jordan: “Honestly, my dream is to manage Chelsea one day.

“Will it ever happen if I don’t go off and do the other bits [manage elsewhere]? No, it won’t.

“But when an opportunity arises like it did last year when Liam left the football club, there was nobody better.

“There was no one more qualified. I can’t believe I’m going over this again. For me, there’s no one more Chelsea.

Former Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior — Rosenior was sacked by Chelsea after a horror four-month tenure

Calum McFarlane, Interim Manager of Chelsea, gestures during the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Manchester City — McFarlane oversaw two wins in eight matches overall as interim Chelsea boss

With both Terry and McFarlane boasting no prior senior managerial experience, the former England captain felt that his playing experience should’ve earned him a role on the coaching staff at least for their season’s run-in.

He continued: “Listen, the owners, sporting directors have made a decision. That’s what they go with.

“But the fans were calling for me. I felt I deserved an opportunity. Whether it was for one game, two games, three games. We had a London derby against Spurs. We had a [FA Cup] semi-final against Leeds.

“I just thought I should have been in and around it, or be asked to be in and around it. That’s okay for me to add that.

“And I had those conversations with ownership and sporting directors, and we had a very honest, open conversation. And they went down a different route. And that’s their decision.”

Despite his frustrations at missing out, Terry was in no doubt that Alonso is the right man to take Chelsea forward.

Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso gives instructions during a match against Manchester City — Alonso boasts plenty of top-level experience, previously guiding Bayer Leverkusen to Bundesliga glory

Chelsea legend John Terry with the Premier League trophy. — Terry believes his achievements on the pitch and lessons learned from former managers have given him the knowledge he needs to make it as a head coach… but hasn’t had a crack at a top job yet

The Premier League great said: “Because I haven’t got the experience, we need a manager [with experience].

“Alonso’s coming in with bundles of experience. He’s a young manager, loads of great new ideas. Hopefully he’s going to get the reins to go and sign the players that he wants.

“But you strip it back to an interim opportunity. One game, there’s no one better in the world.

“You can go and get the best manager in the world for one game. You can go and get Pep Guardiola. He’s not more Chelsea than me. And that’s my point.”

Terry ‘absolutely not looking’ for coaching role

While Terry was clear that he will need to pick up managerial experience elsewhere if he is to land his dream job at Chelsea, he ruled out taking to the dugout anytime soon.

His only senior experience is at Aston Villa and Leicester City, having been part of Dean Smith’s backroom staff on both occasions.

Dean Smith and John Terry — Terry served as assistant manager to Dean Smith at Aston Villa

But the 45-year-old revealed he is not currently looking for a coaching gig, despite recently receiving two offers for a role.

Terry rounded off: “I’ve led Chelsea for 22 years, led dressing rooms, got people with me, not only players, but the whole football club and galvanised everyone to follow me in that way.

“I haven’t been given the opportunity. Am I looking to be a manager now? No, I’m absolutely not.

“Very interestingly, when you’re not looking, opportunities arise, and there’s two opportunities I have at the moment, but I’m not looking.

“I’m genuinely, I’m not looking to go down the route of being a manager and being in full-time football.

“When I left Aston Villa, that’s all I wanted to do was be a number one. I thought I would be a very good number one because that’s what I’ve done for 22 years.

“Now, am I looking? No, I’m not. So I’m completely done. I’m now in the social media world.”