SOCCER:JOHN TERRY has drawn encouragement from Roman Abramovich's willingness to appoint Andre Villas-Boas as Chelsea's manager at the age of only 33, a move that has fuelled the England captain's own ambitions to make the transition from playing to coaching at Stamford Bridge.
The Chelsea stalwart has been impressed by the early impressions made by Villas-Boas, formerly Jose Mourinho’s opposition scout, since he became Abramovich’s seventh manager in eight years last month.
Yet, Terry was honest enough to admit that an experienced squad who had underachieved so poorly under Carlo Ancelotti last season must now prove their pedigree once again if this club is finally to achieve stability in the dugout.
“Appointing Villas-Boas was not a brave decision, but a very good decision,” Terry said. “We have spoken about managers coming and going, but I’m certain he will be around for a long time. In Carlo’s first season we thought we had that stability, but it just goes to show the thoughts and ideas of the club. It’s up to us as a group of players to achieve and the manager to get us ready for that.
“We had some great times before, but all that has gone now. We don’t dwell on what we have achieved and settle for that. But, in his role before, the players respected him anyway.
“He was the guy that travelled the world looking at players, and we were very impressed with his knowledge even then. What he has achieved away from Chelsea has been incredible. He fully deserves this chance. Not enough chances are given to young managers, and how do we expect them to get the experience if not given the chance? Thankfully, our owner has given him an opportunity.”
Terry has made no secret of his desire to go into management, preferably at the club he has served since he was 14, once he stops playing, and he has three years to run on his deal at Stamford Bridge. He will be the same age as Villas-Boas, 33, when that contract expires and, as he continues to study for his own coaching badges in his spare time, already contemplates what the future might hold.
“You do set yourself targets,” he said. “I’m certainly envisaging Andre being in charge for a long time, but I’ve got three years left on my deal and I will be 33 then. Obviously that’s my overall aim: to become manager.”
Villas-Boas oversaw a training session in front of 10,000 fans at the national stadium yesterday.
GuardianService
