Terry tips Fabregas for a London dugout after hailing his elite football IQ

There’s never much patience around Stamford Bridge, is there? Liam Rosenior has barely hung his jacket in the Chelsea office and he’s already getting pelters — the team talks questioned, the response to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi branded toothless. In west London, the clock always ticks quicker for the man in the hot seat.

Terry’s verdict: Fabregas has the chops for the big chair

Enter John Terry, a man who knows exactly how the club breathes. While others are fretting over the present, he’s looking down the track — and he’s got a very specific candidate in mind for the Chelsea job one day: Cesc Fabregas. Speaking on the Icon Series TikTok, Terry weighed up Fabregas’ Arsenal years against his Chelsea stint and made it clear the Spaniard left a lasting impression in blue, particularly during that title-winning season under Antonio Conte.

Terry’s bottom line? He reckons Fabregas owns the sharpest football mind he’s worked alongside, and he’s convinced the Spaniard is destined to coach at the very top — potentially in the dugout at Chelsea or Arsenal.

It’s a bold shout, but not without substance. And let’s be honest, when a serial winner like Terry raves about your tactical IQ, people listen.

The revolving door at Chelsea — and why Terry’s gaze is elsewhere

Context matters. Chelsea don’t do long honeymoons. Graham Potter found that out the hard way. Enzo Maresca didn’t last long either — around 18 months before a breakdown with the hierarchy prompted him to walk. Frank Lampard even had two bites; the second ended with one win in 11 during that caretaker coda in spring 2023. No wonder Terry is already scouting the next visionary rather than betting on longevity for the current man.

For Arsenal, meanwhile, the bar for succession is sky-high. If the job ever opens, it will take a cool head, a clear game model and the courage to carry a club of that size. Terry believes Fabregas ticks those boxes.

Fabregas at Como: proof in the pudding

After hanging up his boots at Como in 2022/23, Fabregas dived straight into coaching with the Under-19s before taking the first team on an interim basis in November 2023. He had to step back due to licensing rules, but when Como clinched promotion to Serie A in 2024, he was officially handed the reins on a four-year deal.

Since then, the numbers have backed up the hype: 27 wins in 64 matches — a 43% win rate — and a side that looks well-drilled and ambitious. They finished 10th last season and currently sit sixth, five points clear of seventh and sniffing European football. That’s not a fairy tale; that’s structure, detail and standards.

Why Fabregas would fit a Premier League giant

Fabregas the player saw the picture two passes earlier; Fabregas the coach seems cut from the same cloth. His teams are tidy on the ball, aggressive off it and tactically adaptable — the hallmarks of someone who can handle a volatile Premier League touchline. Crucially, his communication is crisp. Players know their roles, supporters see an identity, and executives get a project they can believe in.

And don’t underestimate the London factor. He knows both clubs inside out: the demands, the politics, the pressure-cooker. If either job comes up, he won’t need a map to find the training ground or a translator to explain his philosophy.

Side note: Terry still stirs the pot

In classic JT fashion, he even sparked debate with his all-time Chelsea XI, leaving out a couple of heavyweights like Arjen Robben and Ricardo Carvalho. Opinions, eh? But when it comes to Fabregas, Terry’s view is crystal clear.

The pundit’s call

If Rosenior rides out the early turbulence, fair play; if not, expect the shortlist to feature fresh, modern thinkers. Across town, Arsenal won’t settle for anything less than elite. On both counts, Fabregas has put undeniable markers down. The step from Como to a London super-club is huge — but not impossible for someone with his brain and presence.

Keep an eye on the markets if you fancy a flutter on next-manager odds — and always shop around the best betting sites for value.