John Terry could be on the verge of securing his first managerial role, with reports suggesting Oxford United are considering the former Chelsea captain as their next head coach.
The 45-year-old is currently involved with Chelsea’s academy setup and Baller League outfit 26ers, having previously worked as an assistant to Dean Smith at both Aston Villa and Leicester City. Terry has long made it clear he wants to follow former England team-mates such as Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney into full-time management, but opportunities have so far failed to materialise.
Terry is understood to have interviewed for the Oxford United position in November 2023, before the club opted to appoint Des Buckingham. However, he has remained on the board’s radar, and following Gary Rowett’s dismissal after a poor run of one win in ten matches, The Sun reports that Terry is now under consideration.
Handing Terry his first senior managerial post would be a bold decision, particularly with Oxford sitting just above the Championship relegation zone. The U’s are level on points with Portsmouth in 22nd and only one point clear of Norwich in 23rd. Terry would also represent an outside choice, with former Rangers and QPR boss Michael Beale still the bookmakers’ favourite.
The potential appointment would come only months after Terry publicly admitted his frustration at being overlooked for managerial roles. Reflecting on his coaching journey, he pointed to his time at Aston Villa under Dean Smith, where the club won promotion, as valuable experience he believed would open doors.
Terry previously said he was surprised not to have landed a job anywhere in the English pyramid, even at League One level, despite his background as a Premier League assistant and his leadership experience as captain of both Chelsea and England. He acknowledged his frustration, insisting he has the qualities to succeed as a manager, but accepted that the opportunity has yet to arrive.
Oxford United returned to action at the weekend with a dramatic late 2–1 victory over Southampton, bringing an end to the difficult spell overseen by Rowett before his departure.
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