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John Terry has always been known as a strong and very capable defender in his time at Chelsea where he went on the leave a legacy at the West-London club.
Terry was a player who didn’t like to be compromised and it showed on the pitch with his tenacious style of play and commanding efforts at the back to bring the team together and fight till the very end.
The hard-hitting defender appeared for Chelsea an impressive 717 times whilst scoring 67 goals in a stunning career winning five Premier League trophies, five FA Cups and also picking up success in Europe winning both the Europa League and The Champions League, but the less said about the Champions League runner up medal the better, after slipping in the penalty shootout in 2008 against Manchester United.
Terry was also an England international winning 78 caps for his country.
He is now an assistant manager to Dean Smith at Aston Villa and was part of the backroom team that led Villa to the playoff final win against Derby County winning promotion to the Premier League.
Now we take a look at what the football world has to say about the tough defender. Here are a few quotes on John Terry:
“I would have to say John Terry is the toughest defender I’ve played against. He reads the game really well, he’s physical, and he’s tough to play against so you know you’re always in for a tough game when you play against him.
He’s big, good in the air and he’s powerful. But he is a very intelligent footballer who reads the game so well. You come off feeling like you’ve been in a real game.”
—Wayne Rooney
“I have not always been complimentary about how Chelsea play, because it is the opposite of what we stand for at Barcelona. But I can’t deny that Terry is one of the most committed English players I’ve played against, and a great leader for club and country.”
—Xavi on John Terry
“He’s full of confidence. I see my John of 2004, 05, 06. I see him. I don’t see any difference. I only see a difference when I see his twin (daughters) when they go to the training ground because they were born in that period and now they are running and kicking balls.
“In him there is no difference. He’s playing so good.”
—Jose Mourinho on John Terry
“John Terry has been the best Premier League defender I’ve seen, the best centre-back I’ve ever played against. He’s just been a warrior.”
—Jamie Redknapp
“I had no doubt Terry was going to become a superstar. His character and personality impressed me straight away. He stepped in as a young player and looked as if he’d played forever–never scared. He would stand up to anyone, no matter their status.”
—Gianfranco Zola quotes about John Terry
“In my opinion the best centre-half in world football for a long time. I think you could’ve taken John for granted, having someone that good behind you, and he’d often play on the left side directly behind me. I can remember on one hand the number of times he was caught out for pace. He’s technically brilliant and I know John worked at that.”
—Frank Lampard quotes on John Terry
“The toughest opponents for me are the defenders who are tough in the way they play, where you can’t see a way through. Paolo Maldini and John Terry are two of the toughest men I have met on the field.”
—Ronaldinho about John Terry
“He was not only a great player, he certainly still is, but he was also a great coach on the pitch. I saw him here once at London Colney playing with the Under 21s and the way he coached the team as a player was absolutely marvellous. He was a real leader, and he had a great career as well, let’s not forget that.”
—Arsene Wenger
“He is definitely one of the greatest or maybe the greatest player of Chelsea’s history. He has won everything for this club. He is respected by all of us.”
—Willian
“John Terry is the captain of all team captains, he was born with the captain’s armband on his arm.Even without the band, it’s as if he wears it anyway, and that’s how it ought to be. He’s different from all the others, Chelsea is his home, it always has been, ever since the youth squad.
—Carlo Ancelotti
“John is a player with a lot of authority. When he’s in front of you, he’s a real leader in the dressing room and on the pitch.”
—Thibaut Courtois
“He has been around forever and his consistency has been amazing. A natural leader and a very good player positionally.”
—Alan Smith
“It’s not only on the field that John has the qualities every club desires. It’s off the field too. He leads the club, leads the players in that dressing room wonderfully well and always has done.”
—Ray Wilkins
“JT was a very good player. He could read the game, he had everything; he could play very tough, good with the head, a great leader, could finish game after game after game without making any mistakes. If he did make mistakes, you could be sure he’d be better in the next game. A good character, good player, and one of the best ever for England, for sure.”
—Avram Grant
“I just feel that the way he is viewed obscures his playing qualities. His ability on the ball never gets spoken about. How many defenders in world football can switch the play with their weaker foot?”
—Jamie Carragher
“John Terry was one of the greatest captains I had in my career. He’s an extraordinary player with a winning mentality, and a great professional.”
—Juliano Belletti
“For me, he can play many more times. He is still at a top level. He has been playing very well since I arrived at Chelsea. He can continue for sure. His performances have been consistent. Since I have been at the club, I haven’t seen him play badly. That’s the truth. He was always helping everybody. He has been a massive support to me. When I started my first games last year he was always talking to me. He is a legend and a very good leader. I have learnt a lot from him.”
—Kurt Zouma
“He always tried to help the young players coming through to the first team. He tried to give you advice, tried to make sure you stayed grounded.”
—Nathaniel Ake
“It would be nice to think that playing alongside John week-in week-out, and Ashley [Cole], can help me get in the England team.”
—Gary Cahill
“When you have a coach like him, when he speaks to you, you just listen and do what he is telling you. I speak to him a lot because he was a great defender. He is good to speak with. We have really good staff and quality coaches, so I am happy.”
—Frederic Guilbert
“I think he’s the best captain I’ve seen. When I first joined the first team changing room at 18 and new signings would come in, he would be the first one to welcome them and show them about He certainly made me feel like a first-team player when I first moved over. He was a big help.”
—Ruben Loftus-Cheek
“Every manager and club would think about John Terry if he’s available because there are not many leaders like him, but then again we have experience in that position, we have good players in that position, so never say never but to be fair I don’t think about that right now.He’s on top, together with Rio Ferdinand.”
—Slaven Bilic
“Me and him are always in the training ground, chatting and doing whatever, I do get on so well with JT. Everyone knows how much of a good player he has been and what he has done in the game.”
—Jack Grealish
“John is doing perfectly in his performances, he can carry on [playing], of course. He is fit, his ambition is enough to carry on.”
—Guus Hiddink
“Just to say how privileged I was to have shared so many great memories with this man on and off the pitch. It was a pleasure! Hats off for all he has done and wish him all the best for the future!
True legend and Captain with a capital C.”
—Petr Cech
