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GO WITH THE FLO

Where John Terry’s Chelsea team-mates from his 1998 debut including Vialli and Flo are now as legend returns to club

AN 86th-minute substitution at the end of a League Cup cruise past Aston Villa may have appeared fairly normal at the time - but it turned into a moment of club history.

As John Terry entered the pitch for the first time, it would become No1 of 717 appearances for a team he would captain to multiple league titles.

How the team lined up - with JT on the bench until he replaced Petrescu in the 86th minute
How the team lined up - with JT on the bench until he replaced Petrescu in the 86th minute
John Terry broke into the Chelsea team in the late 1990s
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John Terry broke into the Chelsea team in the late 1990sCredit: Getty Images - Getty

Coming on for Romanian defender Dan Petrescu, the centre-back entered a Chelsea team of Olympic champions, tough-tackling midfielders and future managers.

Following Terry's incredible return to Chelsea as an academy coach consultant, SunSport details the starting XI that beat Villa 4-1 on that night and where they are now.

GK: DMITRI KHARINE

A £400,000 purchase from CSKA Moscow in 1992, Russian shot-stopper Kharine won gold at the 1998 Olympics but was second-choice by this third round clash. He left for Celtic at the end of the campaign.

A coaching career has taken the 53-year-old through Luton, Stevenage and currently with National League South side Hemel Hempstead.

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RB: DAN PETRESCU

A Blues favourite during his five years with the club, Petrescu began a management career in his homeland of Romania after retiring.

Currently in charge of CFR Cluj, he has travelled the world overseeing the likes of Jiangsu Suning, Kuban Krasnodar, Al-Arabi - but was hospitalised by coronavirus last year.

Dan Petrescu hass won a number of titles in Romania
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Dan Petrescu hass won a number of titles in RomaniaCredit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow

CB: MICHAEL DUBERRY

Enfield-born defender Duberry came through the Chelsea academy before stints in the Premier League with Leeds and Reading.

Retiring in 2013, Duberry set up his own company, Made Leaders, specialising in training executives and senior leaders.

CB: BERNARD LAMBOURDE

Something of a cult hero, centre-back Lambourde's burst through the middle set up Gianluca Villa's leveller on this October night.

The Frenchman, 50, quit football after spells with Bastia, Nancy and Al Wahda and is now back at first club Cannes as general director.

LB: CELESTINE BABAYARO

Nigerian defender Babayaro, also an Olympic champion, enjoyed seven years at Stamford Bridge.

Once declared bankrupt, nowadays he can be found operating as a football agent and made headlines earlier in 2020 when criticising Joseph Yobo's appointment as Nigeria national assistant team boss.

CM: JODY MORRIS

Another product of the Chelsea system, 43-year-old Morris enjoyed a lengthy love affair with the London club.

A period in charge of Chelsea's academy earned him a move to Frank Lampard's Derby in 2018, and he followed the former midfielder back to West London as his assistant before they were both axed at the start of 2021.

Jody Morris (right) could be found prowling the touchline with Frank Lampard until this year
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Jody Morris (right) could be found prowling the touchline with Frank Lampard until this yearCredit: Reuters

CM: DENNIS WISE

Blues legend Wise experienced a promising career as a manager, in charge of Millwall, Swindon and Leeds, before an ill-fated move to Newcastle in 2008.

Widely hated by Toon fans while executive director under Mike Ashley, Wise left after just over a year on Tyneside and became a pundit before taking up a senior administrative role with Italian Serie B side Como 1907.

CM: GUS POYET

A fiery character on the pitch, the Uruguayan has made a strong career as a passionate, technical coach.

First finding success with Brighton, Poyet memorably kept Sunderland up in 2014 by inflicting Jose Mourinho's first home league defeat at Chelsea - with Bordeaux and Universidad Catolica his last two clubs.

ST: GIANLUCA VILLA

As player-manager, Vialli's hat-trick past Villa made the game safe enough for the young Terry to make his debut off the bench.

Aged 57, the Italian has released a number of books, worked as a commentator and co-founded an investment firm.

In 2020, he revealed the all-clear confirmation after a 17-month battle with pancreatic cancer, but sadly this year Vialli confirmed his cancer had returned.

He was also part of Italy's Euro 2020-winning backroom team, playing a role as delegation chief in Roberto Mancini's triumphant set-up.

ST: MARK NICHOLLS

Having not quite made the grade at Chelsea as a young forward, Nicholls embarked upon a journeyman career around the lower leagues.

Torquay, Northwood and Beaconsfield are just three of the clubs he turned out for, with the 44-year-old last playing at Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division club North Greenford United before retiring.

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ST: TORE-ANDRE FLO

Striker Flo, born in the Norwegian village of Flo, appeared for Chelsea through four seasons, winning the FA and League Cup.

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And, like Morris and Terry, the 48-year-old is an example of the club inviting back former stars with Flo currently the club's loan player technical coach.

He also set up the Tore-Andre Flo Academy in Berkshire, coaching school kids aged 5-17.

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