BBC pundit Danny Murphy has highlighted how new Aston Villa boss Dean Smith will use John Terry after appointing the former centre-back as part of his backroom staff.
Terry has taken a spot on Smith’s backroom staff at Villa Park after the 47-year-old was poached from Championship rivals Brentford, with Terry retiring from playing in the process.
This will be Terry’s first job in management after his retirement, and Murphy has now shared how exactly Terry will contribute behind the scenes in Birmingham.
Speaking to Jim White on Talksport [Monday, 10:37], Murphy said: “He knows the players and will be good at liaising back…he’s worked with some of the best managers in the world so it’s not all about him learning from Dean Smith.
“He’ll learn from John as well. Just because you haven’t managed before doesn’t mean you can’t [contribute].
“John needs to learn some stuff but he’ll be a massive help. I mean who’s going to know how to help centre-halves better than him?”
OPINION
Murphy is right in highlighting Terry’s potential contribution here, because there have been so many questions asked already about his exact position on the new Villa staff. Smith’s decision to bring in his own assistant from Brentford, Richard O’Kelly, had raised questions about Terry’s role, but it is clear that this is not merely a sympathy hire from the club. Smith will have sanctioned Terry’s involvement because he knows that the former Chelsea and Villa defender will have a lot to offer him and his team. There is no way that Smith would take on someone who he believes would just be learning on the job. Obviously Terry will have a lot of learning to do as well, but he will have some big contributions to make. His closeness to the squad will be a massive part of that, with Terry knowing a lot of the players from his one-year spell at the club last term. That will help Smith get to know everyone quicker and facilitate a quick start this weekend against Swansea.