John Terry 'emerges as shock candidate' to become new boss of Championship side

John Terry could be set to land his first managerial job as Oxford United boss, according to reports.

The former England captain, 45, is currently working in Chelsea's academy and with Baller League side 26ers, after spells as Dean Smith's assistant at Aston Villa and Leicester City.

He has long expressed his desire to follow his former Three Lions team-mates like Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney by getting into full-time management, but such opportunities have not yet arisen.

It is understood that Terry did interview for The U's post in November 2023 - before Des Buckingham was given the job - and has remained on the radar of the club's board ever since.

After Buckingham's replacement Gary Rowett was sacked following a disastrous run of just one win in 10 games, The Sun are reporting that bosses at the U's are considering Terry.

It would be a bold move to hand the Chelsea legend his first managerial gig with the club sitting just above the Championship relegation zone - level on points with Portsmouth in 22nd and just one point ahead of Norwich in 23rd.

He would also prove to be an outsider's choice, given former Rangers and QPR manager Michael Beale remains a firm favourite with most bookmakers.

In fact, the move would possibly even surprise Terry himself, given that it was just a matter of months ago that the former defender admitted being 'baffled' that he'd not yet been offered a job in the English football pyramid.

'When I went into Villa I got great experience under Dean Smith and we got promotion, which was incredible,' Terry previously said.

'As an assistant coach in the Premier League and the experience I've had as a player and an individual captain in both Chelsea and England, I thought that would be enough to get me a job.

'I'm not saying a job in the Premier League or the Championship - but a job at League One level.'

Terry continued: 'I didn't even get a sniff. I had interviews and it was just "you have no experience". When I see some people managing today, it baffles me, it really does.

'Am I frustrated? Yes, absolutely, because I have a lot of good attributes to be a really good coach or a really good manager but, unfortunately, that's not happened.'

Oxford United dramatically returned to action on Saturday with a last-gasp 2-1 win over Southampton, ending a miserable run which Rowett had presided over.

The U's' busy festive period continues as they host Swansea on Monday before travelling to Ipswich Town on New Year's Day.