John Terry signs contract extension at Aston Villa
Assistant boss John Terry has ended any uncertainty over his immediate future by signing a contract extension at Villa.
The five-time Premier League winner, who began his coaching career by becoming part of Dean Smith’s backroom team last October, had been mooted as a possible target for Derby should Frank Lampard leave for Chelsea.
But Terry has now demonstrated his commitment to helping Villa on their Premier League return, after agreeing a deal keeping him at the club until 2021.
Smith said: "I am really pleased that JT has extended his current deal as he is a pleasure to work with.
“We have had a successful start to our Villa coaching careers and JT has been instrumental in joining myself, Richard O'Kelly and Neil Cutler.
"He has complimented the team that we have and I have no doubts he will go on to be a top manager in the years to come.
“Our focus now is on the coming season and to try to continue the progress we have had in the past eight months."
Terry, who also won the Champions League during two decades as a player at Stamford Bridge, finished his playing career with Villa, narrowly missing out on promotion in 2018.
A year later he went one better from the dugout, playing a key role as Smith guided the club back to the top flight through the play-offs.
Villa chief executive Christian Purslow said: "The board is delighted with John Terry’s contribution to our club in his first year as an assistant head coach.
“We admire his dedication and commitment to gaining more experience and learning under Dean Smith’s leadership in these formative years of his managerial career."
