John Terry best defender of his era - Chris Sutton

Terry played what is likely to be his final game for the Blues against Sunderland on Sunday and was given a spectacular send-off, substituted in the 26th minute while his team-mates formed a guard of honour.

The 36-year-old came through the ranks at Chelsea and has won five Premier League titles and five FA Cups with the club, as well as both the Champions League and Europa League.

Sutton believes he is a model for all aspiring English defenders to look up to.

"If I was John Stones I would watch John Terry, not this season maybe, but in his career," said Sutton, a BT Sport football expert.

"John Terry was the best of his era. I'm a great admirer of Rio Ferdiniand and the Arsenal boys were tough to play against but he is clever, it was his intelligence.

"Defending is about decision-making and John Terry was a master."

Terry's emotional farewell at Stamford Bridge attracted plenty of criticism, particularly as Sunderland had been asked to kick the ball out of play so the ceremony could take place.

"Was it self-indulgent? Yes," Sutton said.

"It was all a little bit odd. But I think we should concentrate more on what a great player and great servant he has been.

"But you can't get away from the fact, going forward, is it going to be the norm from now? So if you have a goalkeeper, number one, is he going to come off in the first minute? It's not for me.

"You think of some of the managers of the past, walking into Sir Alex Ferguson's office or I played under Martin O'Neil and saying: 'what would be the possibility of having a guard of honour in the ninth minute?'. I can imagine the response."

Terry could go out on a high if Chelsea beat Arsenal in the FA Cup final on Saturday but he has also been linked with moves to Bournemouth and China this summer.

"I'm not sure maybe the likes of a Bournemouth could do with him," Sutton said.

"Because he does have great leadership skills but I wouldn't like to see John Terry in the next couple of seasons really decline.

"Then we would maybe remember him for mistakes at the end of his career when he's been an outstanding performer."

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