John
Terry has thanked Chelsea's supporters in an open letter, and has called the
decision to depart "the toughest of my life."
Chelsea and the 36-year-old defender confirmed on Monday that he will end a
22-year association with the Blues when his contract expires this summer,
having won 14 major honours at the club since making his first-team debut in
1998.
Terry will exit Stamford Bridge as the club's most successful ever captain,
having won four Premier League titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups, the
Champions League in 2012 and the Europa League a year later.
"It's with overwhelming emotion that earlier this week the club and I
announced this will be my last season as a Chelsea player," club captain
Terry said.
"This has been the toughest decision of my life for me and my family, but I
always envisaged leaving on the right terms, in the right way and at the
right time - and that is now.
"I feel I still have regular football in me but understand that
opportunities here at Chelsea will be limited, it is therefore time for a
new challenge.
"From joining as a schoolboy at 14, to signing my first professional
contract at 17 and then making my first-team debut in the same year, to then
being part of the transformation and evolution of this great football club,
has inspired me to keep striving to be the very best I can be.
"For 22 years this club has been my life, it has given me the platform to
compete against the best, break record after record, win trophy after
trophy, and as we won more it only increased my desire to work harder and
demand more from myself and the team. With this obsession, I've been able to
become Chelsea's most successful captain and I'm immensely proud to be
mentioned in the same company as Ron Harris, Peter Bonetti, Frank Lampard,
John Hollins and many other greats as one of the highest appearance-makers
for the club.
Thank you to all my team-mates and managers over the years. To have gone
shoulder to shoulder in many a battle with you has been an honour.
"I'll never be able to put into words the love I have for you fans. The
support you have always given me, both personally and to the team, is
phenomenal. You've been instrumental in my success and have inspired me and
the team to win so many trophies.
"Wearing the armband and being your captain has been without doubt one of
the proudest achievements of my life. I only hope I've been able to repay
you with my commitment and loyalty throughout my career, and I look forward
to returning to this great club in some capacity in the future.
"I want to stress that the journey is not yet over. There is a long way to
go and we are committed to ending this campaign on a high. I am fully
focused on helping the team and manager in every way I can from now until
the end of the season."
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