"Could do things that embarrass you" - Chelsea legend John Terry names 'incredible' Manchester United man as greatest ever English PL player

Chelsea legend John Terry has named former Manchester United star Wayne Rooney as the greatest ever Englishman to play in the Premier League. The former defender enjoyed numerous battles in his time with the Blues, leading them to unprecedented success during his time as captain.

Terry spoke on his TikTok account about the greatest strikers he faced in the Premier League, and he named Rooney in second place behind Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. The 44-year-old then went on to extol the virtues of the Manchester United legend, pointing out that he considers Rooney as the greatest Englishman to play in the top-flight.

"A very close second would be Wayne Rooney. I think Wayne is the greatest ever England player to play in the Premier League. He doesn’t get enough credit he deserves. The movement, he could drop short, go in behind, score with both feet. He could do things that embarrass you. I remember him being 17 and super strong in 2004 against Portugal that summer, an incredible player, someone I absolutely adore", he said (via United in Focus).

Wayne Rooney burst onto the scene as a 16-year-old with Everton before earning a big-money move to Old Trafford aged 18 in 2004. He went on to score 253 goals, becoming the Red Devils' all-time top goalscorer, and was England's leading scorer from 2015 until Harry Kane broke his record in 2023.

Rooney was teammates with Terry for England and could have played alongside the defender at Chelsea, with the Blues having been keen on his talents. He never got to join Chelsea during his playing career and currently works as a pundit.

Chelsea legend reveals interaction with Manchester United star that led to his retirement

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has revealed that he took the decision to end his playing career after a conversation with Manchester United defender Luke Shaw. Then a highly-rated young defender, Shaw was with the Red Devils in 2016 when Lampard decided to retire.

In an interview with The Independent, Lampard revealed that Arsenal legend Tony Adams was the subject of the conversation that led him to realize that he had to retire. He said that the Manchester United defender had no idea who Adams was, and he knew that the time of his retirement had come, as a result.

"I was having a chat with Luke Shaw, and I mentioned Tony Adams. And he didn't seem to know who I was talking about. I said, 'Are you winding me up?' And he said: 'Who did he play for?' I knew then that it was time to retire", he said (via SportBible).

Lampard enjoyed a successful career with Chelsea before leaving the club in 2014 to join MLS outfit New York City FC. He spent time at Manchester City before eventually moving to the MLS, where he remained until his retirement at the end of the 2016 season.

Edited by Sulayman Salahudeen