After two years working with Tottenham Hotspur’s academy, one of Spurs’ all-time best scorers is moving on. Jermain Defoe announced today via social media that he has left his role as a youth coach with the club as he seeks new opportunities in coaching.
It’s not uncommon for Tottenham to give chances to former players as they take their first steps into football management, and Defoe is just the latest one to take advantage of the club’s generosity in helping develop a new generation of coaching talent. After a couple of. years cutting his teeth with Spurs’ youngsters, it sounds like he’s ready to take the next step, likely as an assistant coach in another club’s first team setup. Defoe doesn’t state where he’s heading to next, but I would imagine if he’s leaving Tottenham he probably has at least one offer, and has likely already accepted another gig. We’ll probably find out soon enough if that’s the case.
Defoe is seventh on the club’s all-time scorers list with 143 goals in 362 appearances and is considered a club legend.