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John Terry departs Aston Villa

By Andrew Capitelli

Aston Villa's English head coach Dean Smith (L) and Aston Villa's English assistant coach John Terry (R) talk on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge in London on December 28, 2020. (Photo by John Walton / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JOHN WALTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Aston Villa's English head coach Dean Smith (L) and Aston Villa's English assistant coach John Terry (R) talk on the touchline during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge in London on December 28, 2020. (Photo by John Walton / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by JOHN WALTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Aston Villa announced on Monday morning assistant manager John Terry had left his role at the club, citing his desire to pursue a higher managerial role.

Terry, who joined Villa as a player for the 2017/18 season, was appointed assistant manager in October 2018 and helped the club earn promotion from the Championship.

“It has been a tremendous honour and privilege to have spent these last three years at Aston Villa, but I feel now is the right time to make the extremely difficult decision to move on,” said Terry on the club’s official website.

“I want to be as respectful to the manager and everyone at Aston Villa as I can and, having given my future serious consideration over the summer, I genuinely don’t feel it is fair to move into a new season without being certain of seeing that through.”

Terry brought a wealth of Premier League experience to Aston Villa.

The five-time Premier League champion has reportedly attracted interest from a number of Championship clubs over the past year, including Derby County. Now a UEFA Pro Licence holder, Terry could land a job as a manager in the near future.

It can be difficult to quantify an assistant manager’s influence on a club, but according to The Athletic’s Gregg Evans, Terry’s “defensive shape work in training has been particularly well-received,” and cities Villa’s marked defensive improvement last season as proof of his influence. In 2020/21, Aston Villa ranked seventh in the Premier League in total goals allowed.

Terry was also key to Villa securing the signature of winger Bertrand Traoré last summer. The two played together at Chelsea from 2014 to 2017.

Several current Villa players took to social media on Monday to bid Terry a fond farewell, suggesting he was a positive influence around the training ground. Jack Grealish, Emi Martinez, and Anwar El Ghazi were among the Villa contingent that expressed their gratitude.

Terry brought invaluable experience to Aston Villa when he signed on a free transfer from Chelsea in the summer of 2017. In addition to his five Premier League championship medals, Terry won five FA Cups, three League Cups, a Champions League title in 2011/12, and a Europa League title in 2012/13 with the Blues. The central defender made 78 appearances for England, scoring six times.

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