That John Terry decided to continue his playing career with Championship outfit Aston Villa after being released by his beloved Chelsea last summer tells you everything about his passion for football.

Given his age - he turned 37 in December - retirement would have been a perfectly understandable decision.

Chelsea also finished last season as Premier League champions and he’ll remember his wonderful send-off from the club’s supporters and his teammates for the rest of his life. It seemed the perfect time to hang up his boots.

The Championship is an unforgiving league and Terry must have known that he was taking a big risk by joining Villa, who finished 13th in English football’s second tier last season.

But he clearly felt he could cut it at that level and subsequently accepted Steve Bruce’s offer.

Bruce would have been acutely aware of Terry’s shortcomings - notably his lack of pace and mobility - but he knew he was bringing in a player that the rest of the squad would look up to.

Villa could not have signed a more experienced defender or a bigger leader.

Video of John Terry's highlights at Villa emerges

But how has the centre-back performed at Villa Park this season?

Well, a highlights video of Terry in action from the current season is available to watch on YouTube and it suggests the former England captain has been a rock at the heart of the Villans’ defence.

The footage shows Terry making crucial blocks and interceptions, heading balls clear, getting tackles in and even pinging passes across the pitch.

Basically, it’s just like watching an older, less mobile version, of the Terry who starred for Chelsea for so long.

Terry named in Championship Team of the Season

After watching the video, it’s no surprise that Terry was named in the EFL Championship Team of the Year earlier this month.

It’s also no shock that Villa are currently in with a shout of securing promotion to the Premier League.

Bruce’s side currently sit fourth in the Championship table, four points behind second-placed Cardiff City, with two matches remaining.

Although automatic promotion looks unlikely, Villa could still seal promotion to the top flight via the play-offs.

Will Terry continue next season?

But will Terry continue his playing career after this summer? The man himself spoke to talkSPORT earlier today and here’s what he had to say…

"I still have the appetite and hunger for sure. I just want to get this season finished,” he said. "My aim at the start of the season was to get us up, whether that was automatic or via the play-offs.

"One last push and hopefully we can go out with a bang and make it an easy decision at the end.

"Chelsea will always be my club for sure but since I have been at Aston Villa, I have given my all and the fans have been superb with me. They have welcomed me with open arms and I like to think I have given back on the pitch and on the training field.

"It has been a good combination and worked well for both, I feel.

"It's been an incredible journey so far. It is one I have thoroughly enjoyed. I certainly the made the right decision in the summer

"I have really enjoyed it - they are a great bunch of lads, the manager has been superb with me, and the fans as well have been excellent.

"This football club deserves to be in the Premier League - the support it has got, how big it is, the players, everyone deserves it. It is huge.

"The travelling support is incredible. We are equipped to go up. We need a little bit of luck and hopefully we will get that."