John Terry has suggested he could shelve plans to play on and retire from football altogether on his release from Chelsea this summer, with the former England captain considering his options at the end of the season.

The centre-half made his first start for the champions since mid-September in the 4-3 victory over Watford, scoring his 67th goal for the club but contributing to the concession of the visitors’ immediate equaliser and finding the pace of the game hard going after so long on the sidelines. Terry, when announcing he would sever tier with Chelsea after 22 years, had initially targeted seeking more regular first-team football elsewhere, though he has hinted he may now review that decision.

“I never wanted to be that player, the kind who hangs about, and who people can’t wait to get rid of,” he said. “I think the transition for myself, being on the bench and seeing it from a different aspect, has served me well and will serve me well if I go into management in the future. I never wanted to hang about and stop the progress of a younger player – that was the basis of my decision.

“I know I said I wanted to play regular football while I can but I’ve still not ruled out Sunday being my last game and retiring from football. It depends if the right offer comes along. I’ll sit down and consider it with my family, whether that [offer is] here or abroad or wherever that may be. Genuinely, I haven’t made any decisions as of yet and I’m just evaluating all my options at the moment.”

His head coach, Antonio Conte, urged him to stick with his original plan and play on. “I’m looking forward to seeing him lift the [Premier League] trophy,” said the Italian. “John took his decision because he wanted to continue playing regularly, playing every game, and for that reason he preferred to leave Chelsea and play on elsewhere. He will be a big loss next season. John helped me a lot in my first season, on and off the pitch, and always sends the right message to the players.

“It’s a pity for me, but I respect his decision. If your head and body are telling you to play on, then it’s right to continue trying. Chelsea will always be his home because John, first of all, is a great man and a great legend and player for Chelsea, and in future which ever team he decides to play for.”

“I’m concentrating on my [coaching] badges at the moment,” added Terry. “Even this year will serve me well in the future. Seeing it from the other side: does the manager speak to players who are not in group? Is the training intense enough to make sure your fitness is right when you do get called upon, like tonight? I’ve learnt an awful lot of things sitting there and watching the group, how things have panned out. That will serve me well, just for me, to take the experience and kind of see how things will happen in the future.

“[Leaving] is going to be tough. It’s tough when you’ve been at a club for so long and had so many great memories and relationships, friends and managers and everything else. Tonight was tough but next week I’m going to be in bits, I know.”