John Terry Extends Aston Villa Stay Until 2021

Assistant Head Coach John Terry will remain on Dean Smith’s staff after extending his claret and blue contract until 2021.

John Terry loves the Villa so much he just couldn’t stay away!

The assistant manager will stay on, partnering with Richard O’Kelly and Neil Cutler as Villa fill-out the backroom staff with the same crew that achieved Premier League promotion last month. With a contract extension in-hand, Terry passed over reported interest in a few managerial inquiries. Chief among them: Derby County, who might lose manager Frank Lampard to Chelsea after Maurizio Sarri’s departure.

Aston Villa made the official announcement on Wednesday afternoon:

There is work that remains, states Terry:

This is a tremendous learning opportunity for Terry who gets his first taste of managerial leadership in England’s top flight. Last year, Terry enjoyed his final playing days assuming captaincy of Villa in a narrow loss in the EFL Championship Play-Off Final. After a few months contemplating his future, Terry returned to Villa as part of Dean Smith’s staff in October.

By all accounts, he was a success, evidenced by the new deal.

With another year or two of tutelage, and some Villa success on and off the pitch, Terry could be in-line for a head coaching role in the future. That is his desire, or at least what he has stated publicly. For Villa, it was important to retain as much of the core that went on an incredible run from January onward. Some players departed such as the loanees and a few soon-to-be player transfers, but the core was kept, and that was paramount.

With the same coaching staff in place, will look to improve even further.