John Terry says "incredible" wasted talent should have become Chelsea legend

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John Terry remains Chelsea’s greatest ever academy success story, emerging from the club's youth ranks to go on and become one of the most iconic players in their history.

After joining the Blues at the age of 14, Terry broke into the first team five years later and never looked back, going onto cement a legacy as the most successful Stamford Bridge captain ever.

The former England defender led Chelsea to five Premier League titles, four FA Cups and three League Cups as well as the Champions League and Europa League, making him a significant part of their 116-year history.

While Terry is an example of a true academy success story at the club, however, a number of young Blues wonderkids have failed to fulfil their potential.

When asked about the best youngsters who never lived up to their early promise, Terry said: "Probably a boy called Rob Woollaston at Chelsea.

"He was like a midfielder/winger, had so much ability.

"I still know Rob now, but mentally didn't have that to go and push himself."

Terry added: ”He got chose to train with the first team at a really young age, 17 or 18, did really well and Gullit told him he was going to play in the first team in a cup game.

"He then phoned up on the day of the game and said he was sick.

"All of us, if we were sick or felt like we were at the end of the world, we would have still gone and played the game, we wouldn't have given up that opportunity.

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  • "He actually done it two or three times and he was just not mentally ready for the game, but ability-wise, incredible."

    Chelsea have blooded a number of promising academy graduates in recent seasons, with the likes of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Reece James, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Fikayo Tomori all becoming important members of Frank Lampard and successor Thomas Tuchel’s first-team squad.

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