Jermain Defoe appointed as manager of non-league club Woking
Former Tottenham Hotspur forward Jermain Defoe has embarked on his first full-time management role by accepting the head coach position at National League club Woking.
This announcement coincides with Spurs revealing the departure of Igor Tudor and his coaching team.
Defoe had been rumored to be returning to Spurs’ coaching staff amid Tudor’s difficulties, having previously served as an academy coach at the north London club, but he will now assume the senior role at Woking.
His only prior experience in senior management was a brief period as part of a four-man caretaker group that oversaw Rangers following Steven Gerrard’s exit in 2021.
“Woking is a historic club with immense potential, and I’m excited to be involved in this thrilling project. I am eager to begin,” Defoe, who scored 20 goals in 57 appearances for England, stated.
– Tottenham and Tudor part ways with club deep in relegation mire
– Tudor’s 43-day tenure at Tottenham Hotspur: A timeline of failure
– Igor Tudor joins list of shortest managerial reigns in Premier League era
Woking currently occupies a mid-table position in England’s fifth tier, sitting nine points away from the top seven.
“Jermain’s accomplishments as a player are well-known, but what impressed us during the selection process was his understanding of the game, his commitment to high standards, and his leadership and player development approach,” club chairman Todd Johnson remarked.
“We have a clear vision for our future as a club, and we believe Jermain is the ideal individual to build upon the solid foundations already established and assist us in progressing to the next stage of that journey.”
Defoe also played for Portsmouth, Sunderland, Rangers, and West Ham among other clubs during a notable playing career.
“Defoe joins the club following a celebrated playing career at the highest levels of the sport and has gained coaching experience through his involvement in the academy system at Tottenham Hotspur and in a player-coach capacity at Rangers FC as part of Steven Gerrard’s coaching staff,” Woking stated.
