Chelsea hero John Terry: captain, leader, legend - liability
Fans call for Blues icon to stay but his exit is down to politics, not football
Chelsea kept a clean sheet and the fans sung John Terry's name to the rafters as the Blues played their first game since it emerged he would be leaving the club at the end of the season.
News this week that the 35-year-old defender, feted as "captain, leader, legend" by supporters, has not been offered a new contract for next season and will be ending his 21-year association with the club was met with shock and there was an outpouring of support for Terry during the 0-0 draw with Watford on Wednesday.
"They sang his name relentlessly and with an intense pride," says Alyson Rudd of The Times. "It felt like his last game rather than the first of many more before he leaves west London. Had Terry written in person to every single Chelsea supporter to ask them to demonstrate against the club's madness in allowing him to leave, he could not have asked for more."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The game will not live long in the memory and it was Watford who played the brighter football, but Terry "delivered a message at Vicarage Road with a performance much stronger than words", says John Cross of the Daily Mirror.
After speaking of his frustration and disappointment at the weekend, Terry's "typically faultless display in the heart of Chelsea's defence provided a much more compelling argument for the Stamford Bridge hierarchy", writes the journalist.
The decision not to extend the player's contract has baffled many, not least Martin Samuel of the Daily Mail. "Leaving aside that Terry remains, even now, the best defender at the club... still the first pick in any match that Chelsea have to win, how can he be considered to have nothing to offer in the way of example, or inspiration?" he asked.
But it is not any waning of Terry's abilities that has prompted the decision, says Paul Hayward of the Daily Telegraph. "Those looking for footballing reasons for the club's refusal to offer him a new contract will not find them. Politics have shaped his 21 years at Stamford Bridge and politics have brought his downfall," he says.
Owner Roman Abramovich is still smarting from being forced to sack Jose Mourinho, he argues, and has been looking for someone to blame. Terry may not have played a major role in the former manager's downfall, but he has become too much of a distraction.
Chelsea want a new coach who "will be able to choose his own back-four and promote young centre-backs without having to tip-toe round the 'legend' who continues to be seen by many fans as the club’s spiritual guardian", Hayward says. "'JT' has been on the scene of too many dismissals for the next manager to feel completely confident of his power in the dressing room."
But while Terry's absence is now "written into the job offer" for whoever takes over at Stamford Bridge, there could be a way back.
Chelsea's interim boss Guus Hiddink admitted this week that the "door is not shut" and after the Watford game, said Terry was "performing very well".
"The next manager could probably still keep him if he wished – or choose the quiet life and ‘respect’ Chelsea’s decision," says Hayward.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Olive oil: alternatives for the 'liquid gold'
The Week Recommends As the price of this store cupboard staple has rocketed, we look at ways to save and other oils to use for cooking
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Scotland Yard, Gaza and the politics of policing protests
Talking Point Met Police accused of 'two-tier policing' by former home secretary as new footage emerges of latest flashpoint
By The Week UK Published
-
'Cure for Trump amnesia might be his NY trial'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Is a new English football regulator an own goal for the game?
Talking Point PM hails 'historic moment for football fans' but West Ham owner warns it could 'ruin' Premier League
By The Week UK Published
-
2023-2024 Premier League predictions: champions, relegation and golden boot
feature A look at the top flight talking points and pundit picks for the new season
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City: can ‘one of the best sides in history’ win the treble?
feature Guardiola’s Premier League champions have two more trophies in their sights
By The Week Staff Published
-
Premier League: Man City vs. Arsenal predictions
feature What the pundits say about tonight’s title race showdown at the Etihad
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Antonio Conte leaves Tottenham after ‘extraordinary’ rant at players
feature After another year without a trophy, Spurs are now searching for a new manager
By The Week Staff Published
-
Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: ‘welcome to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool 2.0’
feature Anfield’s ‘new front three’ were on fire in the humbling of their bitter rivals
By Mike Starling Published
-
Man City’s financial charges: what next for the Premier League champions?
feature The club is alleged to have breached financial rules around 100 times over a nine-year period
By Mike Starling Published
-
Can Arsenal really win the Premier League title?
feature How the pundits reacted after the Gunners’ late 3-2 victory over Man Utd
By Mike Starling Published