Chelsea legend John Terry agreed to manage Saudi League side Al-Shabab

Chelsea legend John Terry has revealed he got very close to managing Saudi League side Al-Shabab, but for some circumstances the deal fell through in the last moment.

Terry, who felt he came close to taking up his first head coaching job in the Saudi Pro League but still has dreams of a return to Stamford Bridge as a manager.

The 44-year-old started his coaching career at Aston Villa, where he was appointed as the assistant manager to Dean Smith.

John Terry as Assistant manager for Dean Smith at Aston Villa

The former Chelsea captain left his post after serving for three years but reunited in April 2023 with Smith to become his assistant once again at Leicester City. Seven months later, the bells at West London came calling – Terry returned to Chelsea as an academy coach.

Before taking that job, the former England defender had an opportunity to take up his first head coaching role at Saudi Pro League club Al-Shabab, however, the deal collapsed at the last moment.

Talking to The Sun, Terry talked about waiting for the right opportunity to take his first professional job as a manager after getting his badge,

“I got very close with that and things got moved at the last minute, which meant it didn’t go through.

I’ve done my badges. I’m ready. If the right opportunity comes up, and it has to be the right opportunity in terms of squad and location, I’m all ears.

I’m watching every game of football I can possibly watch. I’ve still got my eyes in it. There will come a point for me when I need to say ‘that’s it’.

“But you have to be obsessed with it and I’m still obsessed with it. I’m analysing games, I’m reviewing stuff, I’m doing online courses and all of that to be a better coach or a better manager that I can be.

So who knows if that opportunity comes along? I’ve got a lot to give. I know that I’ve managed dressing rooms and groups before.”

For a man who played for the club for so many years, he still continues to stay optimistic in his quest to manage the club’s senior side someday.

He added: “I led Chelsea for 22 years. So to get thrown at me that I’ve got no experience as a number one is a little bit baffling.

“But again, I’ll keep trying until that kind of day stops because I have a dream of managing Chelsea one day, and that’s the ultimate for me. Would I love to be part of it? Of course I would. Chelsea’s my club.”

John Terry made a total of 717 appearances for Chelsea in his 22-year career, including 492 league appearances, scoring 41 goals and keeping 214 clean sheets, while captaining the team for over 500 games.