Roberto Di Matteo backs John Terry to step into club management

Former Aston Villa and Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo believes Terry has the credentials to step into club management in the coming years. The 38-year-old had been linked with the Newcastle United job earlier this summer but ultimately a deal did not materialise with the Magpies opting to go with Steve Bruce instead.

As a result, Terry continues to remain the deputy to Villains boss Dean Smith but Di Matteo feels the former centre-back will ultimately become the head coach at some club, he said: “If you can sign JT, you get him. He’s a guy who makes things easier for the manager. He, too, will be there as a manager in the future. As a player, he was writing down some of the sessions and he’s now gained so much experience from the managers he’s worked under.”

After parting ways with Chelsea, Terry became a player for the Villains during the 2017/18 season but he was not able to guide the club to the Premier League through the Championship playoff final. Thereafter, he decided to hang up his playing boots and joined the club on a coaching capacity last season where the west Midlands outfit eventually secured their return to the top-flight.

The west Midlands outfit have made a poor beginning to the season with just three points acquired from the opening four games and that sees them in the drop zone. Nonetheless, there have been plenty of positives with the defensive displays during those matches and the team need to get their act together in the forward department such that they can stay competitive.

Aston Villa return from the international break with a home game against West Ham United and they have an opportunity to return to winning ways. John McGinn has been the main source of attacking threat during the opening phase of the season and the Scotland international seems bound to join a bigger club sooner rather than later.