How John Terry has reacted to Oxford United appointment talk | OneFootball

Former Chelsea and England captain John Terry has commented on his links to the Oxford United role

John Terry has responded to claims that he could be in line to become the next Oxford United manager, which would have represented a first senior, full-time role in the dugout for the iconic ex-Chelsea defender

The U's recently made the decision to part ways with Gary Rowett just two days before Christmas, after a run of just one victory in his last 10 Championship games in charge.

That choice seems to have provided Oxford with an instant boost, defeating an in-form Southampton on Boxing Day to keep their heads just above the relegation zone at this moment in time.

Naturally, talk has started to emerge about who Rowett's replacement could be at the Kassam Stadium, and Terry had been tipped to become his potential successor

John Terry denies Oxford United links

With the hectic festive period of EFL football in full swing, Oxford are having to balance their manager search with remaining competitive on the pitch.

The Sun recently revealed that former Chelsea and England captain John Terry was in the frame to take over the job, which would be his maiden role as a first-team manager.

It is stated that he interviewed for the role when Des Buckingham was appointed in 2023 and has long been on the radar of Oxford's owners.

However, the 45-year-old has now come out and denied these claims. Commenting via TikTok, Terry stated: "I'm not sure where these rumours come from.

"I'm certainly not on the lookout for a job. I love my role at Chelsea, in the academy. Certainly not approached Oxford, not spoken to anybody at all.

"Just wanted to completely rule myself out of it. I wish Oxford and whoever goes in as manager all the best.

"But it certainly won't be me."

Terry has been part of Chelsea's academy staff since 2022, having previously held an assistant manager role at Aston Villa under Dean Smith.

John Terry may not have been the best choice for Oxford United

Heading into the 2025/26 campaign, Oxford United looked to be one of the teams that would face an uphill struggle to remain in the division.

Their resources couldn't stack up against most of the other sides in the division, which automatically put them at risk of suffering the drop down to League One.

Despite remaining competitive in the survival fight, Oxford made the decision to part ways with Rowett. Now, they face the tough task of getting his replacement absolutely spot on.

In their current situation, the U's need to hire an experienced head who knows how to keep teams in the Championship on a small budget. Rowett, of course, fit that bill to a tee, which is why many supporters have been left surprised by his sudden departure.

Terry, on the other hand, possesses none of this knowhow, which would've made him an extremely risky option for the club to select.

Therefore, it makes sense for both parties to avoid making this partnership a reality. There is too much at stake for Oxford United and Terry doesn't enjoy the necessary experience to make the combination successful.

That's not to say an EFL club should never take a punt on Terry — Ultimately, the only way to gain experience is by receiving an opportunity — and there is every chance he could follow the success of other once-rookie bosses. However, the stakes are too high at the Kassam Stadium to warrant that gamble at this moment in time.