
John
Terry has revealed Chelsea will not renew his contract when it expires at
the end of the season.
The club's most decorated captain announced the news after starting a 5-1 FA
Cup win at MK Dons on Sunday and said he plans to continue playing, although
not in England.
The 35-year-old sought clarification on his future before last week's win at
Arsenal and has now accepted there will be "no fairytale ending" to his
career despite a suggestion from Chelsea that "things might change" when a
permanent successor to Jose Mourinho is appointed.
He said: "I was in last week before the Arsenal game and it's not going to
be extended. It's my last run in the FA Cup so I want to make it a good one.
"It's a big season for me and I want to push on - not just in this
competition but in the Premier League as well. I knew before the Arsenal
game so mentally I've kind of accepted it. We just have to move on.
"They said that when the new manager comes in, things might change. It's a
no at the minute. I needed to know now like I have done every January and
sometimes it takes a couple of months to get done.
"Unfortunately it was a no. It's not going to be a fairytale ending, I'm not
going to retire at Chelsea. It's going to be elsewhere, which it took me a
couple of days to get over. But my performance isn't going to change - the
way I train, what I give for the club. I want to give everything and finish
on a high, on 100 per cent good terms with the club."
Terry has been offered a route back to the club once his playing career his
over, and he said: "We spoke about my legacy and coming back to the club
when I finish. The most important thing now is to get us up the league.
"The club will move on. No player is ever bigger than the club. Ideally I
would have loved to stay, but the club's moving in a different direction. No
doubt they'll sign one or two great centre-backs.
"I want to come back as a Chelsea supporter in years to come with my kids
and see the team doing great. unfortunately that's not going to be with me,
but I want to see the team do well. It's going to be my last year and I want
to go out at the top."
Terry, who has been on Chelsea's books since he was 14, made his debut as a
17-year-old in 1998 and has gone on to win 14 major trophies at Stamford
Bridge.
He was made skipper under Jose Mourinho in 2004 and led the club to just a
second English title the same season, going on to lift the trophy three
further times.
The 35-year-old's haul of honours also includes five FA Cups, three League
Cups, a Europa League and a Champions League, although he famously missed
the 2012 final through suspension.