Outgoing Chelsea skipper John Terry has stressed the burning desire to prolong his playing career.
Terry revealed that his former club and country team-mates have warned him not to make a hasty retirement decision.
JT also explained how he feel “physically drained” after his emotional Stamford Bridge farewell on Sunday.
The Blues captain was subbed in the 26th minute to pay homage to his shirt number amid a guard of honour and standing ovation.
Terry then lifted the Premier League trophy along with Gary Cahill – after which he revealed how he spoke with Frank Lampard and Jamie Carragher to seek advice on his future.
“I need to take a step back away from the bubble and say, ‘What does John Terry want to do?’,” he said.
“Once you stop, that’s it. I have put in a few calls to ex-players, Jamie Carragher, Lamps. Everyone says, ‘Play as long as you can.'”
“I never want to be that player who says, ‘I wish I’d played a couple more years.’ You can’t replace these moments.
“When I went out to play against Watford last week, the smell of the grass where it had rained and it was a little bit zippy – all of those things you take for granted over the years. They are the things you are going to miss.
“Ideally, I want to play as long as I can. Physically, I know I can. This year I’m probably fitter than I’ve ever been. Under a manager that works with me on the tactical side of things it takes four or five games to get the sharpness. But the hunger is there inside me to push on and win stuff.
“Everything is an option. I’m not ruling anything out. Whether that be retirement, playing, going into management – I’m halfway through my B-Licence – this or that.”
Terry added: “We all think we can play on until we’re 40, but if ever there was a way to go out it was like this.”
The FA has been probing into whether bets were placed on the pre-planned substitution of Terry to give him a befitting send-off.
