John Terry destroying Robbie Savage in 2015 press conference was brutal

In the eyes of many football fans, John Terry is the greatest defender of the Premier League era.

Plenty of high-profile names give him stiff competition for that title including Rio Ferdinand, Vincent Kompany, Tony Adams and perhaps even Virgil van Dijk.

But Terry, who spent 19 successful years at Chelsea and lifted the Premier League trophy five times, is unquestionably part of the conversation.

It was fitting that Terry won the title in his final season at Stamford Bridge, although there’s no doubt that he was in decline during his final years at the club.

One of the former England captain’s lowest moments came during a Premier League clash between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in August 2015 when he was subbed off by Jose Mourinho at half-time.

Mourinho confirmed after his side’s 3-0 defeat that the decision to withdraw Terry at half-time was purely tactical.

It was a big talking point and Robbie Savage wrote a column saying what many others were at the time: that age was catching up with Terry.

“I’m convinced it sent a different signal – the beginning of the end for Terry as the indispensable rock at the heart of defence,” Savage wrote in The Mirror. 

“Terry will be 35 in December, and age is finally catching up with him. There is no shame in that.

“I believe it was a simple message to Terry that his time is nearly up, in the same way another Blues legend, Frank Lampard, was politely shown the door 15 months ago.”

Savage added: “Terry has been a fantastic servant to Chelsea and is a winner.

“But when do you admit that, as a player, you can no longer do what you used to do?”

These words clearly hit a nerve because Terry, who was struggling individually as Chelsea slumped to 15th in the table, went