John Terry was quick to have his say after Enzo Maresca and Chelsea parted company.
Maresca’s record as Chelsea manager included a 59.78% win percentage and two major trophies across a 549-day reign. But that spell came to an end on New Year’s Day, with the Blues opting for yet another change in the dugout despite still competing across four competitions.
Terry, who spent more than two decades at Stamford Bridge and remains one of the club’s most recognisable figures, addressed the news in a video posted to TikTok and admitted he was shocked by the timing of the decision.
What John Terry said about Enzo Maresca leaving Chelsea
Terry said on TikTok: “Enzo Maresca has just been sacked by Chelsea and to be honest I’m completely shocked, I didn’t see it coming. I know things of late haven’t been how he would like. You can see and hear that there’s been tension.
“I’ve had so many phone calls this morning after the news and everyone expects me to know what’s happening. I haven’t got a clue what’s happening, I’m not involved in the first team so I don’t know.
“Just my opinion from afar, there’s clearly been tension between the manager and the owner and they’ve come to this decision.
“It’s a big shock because rewind three or four weeks ago and we were playing so well against Barcelona. It was so good and fast forward four weeks and form and performances clearly haven’t been good enough.
“I think, like the squad, the manager is inexperienced himself. It was his first full-time job in the top flight and he has said how he’s still learning and how he’s got some things wrong at times. But I will say there’s always two sides to the story and there’s certainly things behind the scenes that I don’t know about. I just hear rumblings like everyone else does.
“I’m disappointed but there’s still loads to play for this season — Champions League, Carabao Cup — so whoever comes in has a lot to play for. As players, you have to get on with it and step up and deal with it.”
@johnterry26 Enzo Maresca sacked by Chelsea! Let me know who you want to manage our club next ? #chelsea #cfc #chelseafc #premierleague #enzomaresca ♬ original sound – John Terry
John Terry backed for Chelsea manager’s job
While Terry has not been presented as a realistic option by credible reports, former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys believes Chelsea should give their former captain a chance.
Keys wrote via X: “If I’m a Chelsea fan I want to see JT given a go. He’s a Chelsea man to the core — has served time elsewhere & there’s no reason he can’t do what Lampard is doing at Coventry — with better tools.”
Is John Terry a likely candidate?
Terry is a Chelsea legend. He is third on the club’s all-time list of appearance-makers, having represented Chelsea 717 times during his playing days.
Frank Lampard — who is fourth on that list — has been in charge of Coventry since November 2024. His side are currently favourites to win promotion to the Premier League, having finished top of the calendar year Championship table in 2025 with 92 points from 26 matches.
Coventry are the fourth team Lampard has managed. He began his managerial career at Derby County and has also led Everton, either side of two unsuccessful stints in charge of his beloved Chelsea.
Many critics believe Chelsea hired Lampard too early in his coaching career after being swayed by the romantic narrative. However, Lampard at least had 57 games as Derby boss under his belt before being offered the top job at Stamford Bridge.
Terry, by contrast, has yet to gain any experience as a senior manager. He has held coaching roles at Aston Villa and Leicester City, as well as working with Chelsea’s youth teams, but has never been a number one.
While lack of experience is one of the main reasons Chelsea are highly unlikely to appoint the 45-year-old, the leading candidate to replace Maresca is actually younger than the former centre-back. That candidate is Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, who is 41.
Not everyone is convinced Liam Rosenior is ready to be Chelsea manager, but he is widely fancied to land the role. Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola is also admired.
Meanwhile, Terry — who recently distanced himself from the vacant Oxford United job — is considered a significant outsider. Bookmakers currently price him as a 50/1 longshot to become Chelsea’s next manager.
