Former Chelsea defender John Terry is now on the coaching staff at Aston Villa in the Championship.
Aston Villa coach Richard O’Kelly has waxed-lyrical about Chelsea legend John Terry and stated how he has taken to coaching ‘like a duck to water’.
The 38-year-old ended his playing career prior to joining Dean Smith’s coaching staff in October after spending one season with the club under Steve Bruce during the 2017/18 campaign.
O’Kelly is assistant to Head Coach Smith and he offered his honest thoughts on Terry as an individual and how he has taken to his new role following his retirement.
“It’s a new venture for John,” O’Kelly told AVTV. “Thoroughly enjoy working with him. He’s enthusiastic. I can remember the shock myself [moving from playing to coaching] when you turn up at half seven in the morning and you don’t leave till five at night.
“You have to get the discs and cones out and get everything sorted for training. He’s taken it like a duck to water. I have been very impressed with his work ethic and knowledge of the game. “
Former centre-back Terry played an integral part in Villa reaching the playoff finals last season before heartbreak struck and they were beaten by Fulham.
Over the course of that season, they conceded just 42 goals under Bruce’s stewardship, with Terry and James Chester playing at the heart of the club’s defence for the majority of the campaign.
Unfortunately, the club has derailed this term, with Bruce getting sacked in October and Villa failing to arrest their defensive issues – they have conceded 43 goals from their 27 league matches and are five points outside of the playoff places.
The likes of Chester, Tommy Elphick, Axel Tuanzebe, Mile Jedinak, James Bree and recent recruit Kortney Hause have played at centre-back as Villa struggle for stability.
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