Soccer: Terry hangs up cleats after long run with Chelsea
LONDON— Former Chelsea and England captain John Terry has announced his retirement.
“After 23 incredible years as a footballer, I have decided now is the right time to retire from playing,” Terry said Sunday. “As a 14-year-old, I made my best and biggest decision: to sign for Chelsea Football Club.
“Words will never be enough to show how much everyone at the club means to me, in particular the fans. My club career and heart will always belong to Chelsea. I look forward to the next chapter in my life and the challenges ahead.”
The 37-year-old centre halfcaptained Aston Villa in the second tier of English football last season, but left the club in the summer. Villa fired manager Steve Bruce last week and reports have linked Terry with a job on the coaching staff.
Having joined the Chelsea youth ranks, Terry made his senior debut in 1998 and was appointed captain in 2004.
He collected the Champions League in 2012, despite being suspended for the final, and the Europa League the following year. As the key cog in Chelsea’s resurgence after its 2003 take- over by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Terry also won the Premier League five times, the FA Cup five times, and the League Cup three times.
Terry kept the Chelsea captaincy despite being banned for four matches in 2012 for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand.
Terry always had the support of Chelsea fans, who have a banner at Stamford Bridge which reads, “Captain. Leader. Legend.”