Terry played almost 500 games, and won 78 international caps, during a playing career which ended in 2018 following a season at Aston Villa.
He won multiple trophies with Chelsea, including five Premier League titles and five FA Cups, plus the Champions League in 2012.
Terry later had spells on the coaching staff at Aston Villa and Leicester City under Dean Smith before returning to Chelsea to work with the academy in 2023.
He has expressed frustration at being unable to secure a head coach role, even on an interim basis.
Following Chelsea’s decision not to turn to him following the departure of Enzo Maresca, he told the GolfLife Youtube channel: “Now listen, people have got to make decisions. I love it when people make decisions and they go ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
“Clearly the ownership, or whoever made those decisions – the sporting directors – have gone ‘no’ not to include me, for whatever reason. I don’t know why.”
Colchester are a club Terry knows well as his nephew Frankie is a member of the first-team squad, making 11 appearances this season following an earlier loan spell at Braintree Town.
The U’s are 13th in League Two and host Accrington Stanley on Tuesday.
