'There can only be one' - John Terry lining up blockbuster first guest as he plans to launch new podcast that would see him 'go head-to-head with Rio Ferdinand'

According to The Sun,the 44-year-old, who has been retired from professional football for several years, is looking at starting his own podcast to provide his insights on the game and is reportedly lining up his former manager, Jose Mourinho, as his first guest on the show.

By stepping into the podcast industry, Terry could find himself in direct competition with Rio Ferdinand, who already hosts a popular weekly show, Rio Ferdinand Presents. Terry and Ferdinand have a notoriously strained relationship, dating back to 2011, when Terry was accused of making a racist remark toward Ferdinand’s brother, Anton. Although Terry was acquitted in court, the incident caused a major rift between the two defenders.

A source toldThe Sun: “John is excited and has told friends there can only be one person as the first guest — and that is Jose Mourinho.”

The source further added: "John has seen a lot of players do their own podcasts and thinks he will have a lot of appeal. He’s a controversial character because of some of his decisions on and off the pitch, but he isn’t afraid of tackling tough subjects. It’s likely his show will have a strong Chelsea focus, but he’ll go into other areas.”

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has already established himself in this space with his own show, while ex-Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Foster has also built a strong following with his podcast. Terry, however, is no stranger to podcast appearances. In 2023, he was on the Up Front with Simon Jordan show, where he spoke at length about his admiration for Mourinho.

Few players have achieved the success Terry enjoyed during his time at Stamford Bridge. Having played 267 matches under Mourinho, Terry played a crucial role in Chelsea’s historic Premier League triumph in 2005, which ended their 50-year wait for a top-flight title. Now, as he ventures into the world of podcasting, fans will be eager to see if he can bring the same leadership and charisma to his new project.