“Better than this clown” – John Terry blasts former England star in Rio Ferdinand dispute

John Terry is one of the most iconic Premier League players of the modern era and was a ferocious competitor on the pitch, and he appears to still have plenty of that fighting spirit judging by his recent comments in a bizarre spat with a former England international.

Claiming five top-flight titles, five FA Cups, three League Cups alongside the Champions League and Europa League, there are few men who boast such a powerful CV and degree of influence at the elite level over such a lengthy span of time.

Nevertheless, players retire and legacies are rewritten by some, including former professionals who have a wealth of stars to pit ex-opponents against by order of who they think was the most talented.

On this occasion, Terry has taken exception to a former Three Lions man sharing his opinion and not for the first time, making for intriguing reading as an unexpected feud has now been reignited.

John Terry reignites spat with Carlton Palmer

Terry has previously taken issue with former Leeds United man Carlton Palmer after the latter placed him fifth in a ranking of the Premier League’s top five defenders, claiming Ricardo Carvalho and Marcel Desailly were better than him, as was Rio Ferdinand.

Palmer said: “There’d be an argument that the two players he played with, Desailly and Carvalho, were better than him. But I wouldn’t argue with him going in the top five. I don’t believe he was better than Rio Ferdinand, that’s for sure.”

Replying at the time, Terry made a mockery of a previous clip showing Palmer mistakenly stating that he played against the Stamford Bridge icon in 1991 – when he was actually only 11 years old: “Please repost Carlton Palmer’s video saying ‘I remember back in 1991 we played against Chelsea and the team talk was to target John Terry,’ I was 11 and at school, and you’re still getting him on your show.”

Now, a fresh video from Karel Prince, who has become a social media sensation for pointing out false storytelling from ex-footballers on podcasts, has prompted another jab from Terry.

Bringing the story back up, Terry had a fresh pop at Palmer, writing on his personal story: “I was 11 years old and I was still better than this clown.”

Will John Terry return to full-time coaching?

Surprisingly, Terry admitted earlier this year that he is done with trying to break through in full-time management, and he is enjoying life working within Chelsea’s academy set-up.

He told The Sun: “I’m done in terms of coaching. I’m enjoying my life, I’m working in the Chelsea academy. I don’t really coach at the moment, I’m a mentor, ambassador. I went for a couple of jobs and those days are gone for me. I’m enjoying my life a little bit, I’ve got my time to myself, I play a bit of golf, I’m in the academy and I have some family time as well. It’s a really good balance for me.”

Previously, Terry was assistant manager at Aston Villa, and he also coached the 26ers in the UK Baller League, though any chance of witnessing the Englishman in the dugout professionally again appears to be off the table for now.