John Terry Reflects on a Difficult Career Moment

John Terry, the former captain of Chelsea, has shared a candid recollection of one of the most challenging times in his professional journey.

As a cherished figure at Chelsea, Terry ranks third in all-time appearances, totaling 717 from 1998 to 2017.

During his tenure as captain, he led the team to secure five Premier League titles, five FA Cups, and the club’s first UEFA Champions League title in 2012.

The triumph over Bayern Munich in the final was especially significant as it redeemed Chelsea after their painful defeat to Manchester United in 2008, despite Terry being unable to play in the 2012 match.

On that victorious night, he donned his kit and joined his teammates to celebrate lifting the trophy at the Allianz Arena, a moment highlighting the joy that followed four years of disappointment.

In contrast, the memory of the heartbreaking night in Moscow, where Terry slipped and missed his penalty in the shootout, continues to haunt him as Manchester United claimed the win.

The iconic image of a tearful Terry on the pitch lingers in everyone’s memory, and the now 43-year-old shared that it took several days for the reality of the loss to hit him.

“I was standing in my hotel, looking over Moscow from about the 25th floor, just questioning everything,” he recounted during an appearance on the Up Front with Simon Jordan podcast.

“I kept asking, ‘Why did it have to rain? Why did I slip?’ Thoughts like these kept swirling in my mind.

The hardest part came three days later when I met up with the England squad for a friendly against the USA at Wembley. I scored an exceptional header from outside the box, but that was tough because if I could trade any goal in my career, it would be that one. I scored from 18 yards, and after the match, I felt utterly devastated.”