Education
He finished his career abroad for Charleston Battery and Otago United.
He finished his career abroad for Charleston Battery and Otago United.
He was recently appointed as the Head Coach of Kerala Blasters of the Indian Super League. He played in the Premier League for Manchester City, Chelsea and Everton, as well as in the Football League for Leeds United, Swansea City,, Crystal Palace,, Sheffield United. Phelan started his career as part of the Leeds United youth system, and made 19 appearances for Leeds in the 1985-1986 season, but was released on a free transfer by Leeds manager Billy Bremner.
Phelan then spent a year at Swansea City, earning a move to top division a year later.
He also helped finish seventh in the league on two occasions during his time there. After five years at in which he made 198 appearances, Phelan was transferred to Manchester City for £2.5 million at the start of the 1992-1993 season, equalling the British record transfer fee for a defender as well as equalling the club"s record fee.
At Manchester City, Phelan made 122 appearances over three and a half seasons. Phelan moved to Chelsea in November 1995, where he spent two years on the fringes of the first team (playing just 15 times in the league) before moving to Everton, where he played regularly under Joe Royle, until he suffered an injury from which he took nearly 18 months to recover.
During Phelan"s injury, Walter Smith took over as Everton manager (after Howard Kendall"s third spell as manager lasted just one season), and did not select Phelan following his recovery, instead loaning him to Crystal Palace.
However, Phelan was released by following promotion having just made two league appearances that campaign. Phelan then had a short spell with Sheffield United before moving to the United States, where he played for and also coached young players. In October 2005, Phelan was named as player-coach of Otago United in the New Zealand Football Championship.
He remained as coach for four seasons up until the end of the 2008-2009 season when, owing to poor results, he was replaced by his assistant Malcolm Fleming for the 2009-2010 season.
Now, during the summer, Terry leaves his family to teach youth soccer with One on One Soccer. Phelan is one of the coaches at the new Templegate Training Academy in Ardwick, Manchester.
On 6 April 2015, Phelan was appointed as a Technical Director of Kerala Blasters Football Club"s grassroots programme. On 1 November 2015, he was made the Head Coach of Kerala Blasters after Peter Taylor was sacked.