Tottenham legend Jermain Defoe has been officially appointed as the new manager of National League side Woking Football Club.
The appointment, confirmed by the club, marks Defoe’s first permanent step into senior management after gaining coaching qualifications in Tottenham’s academy and serving as player-coach at Rangers under Steven Gerrard.
Jermain Defoe has previously revealed his dream of managing Tottenham.
Defoe is fully committed to the job at hand at Surrey, but he has never hidden his ultimate ambitions as a coach.
Speaking previously to the Daily Mail, the versatile former striker admitted it would be “fantastic” to return to his beloved Spurs in a managerial capacity.
“It would be great to manage Tottenham,” he said. “And the funny thing about football is you never know. An opportunity could be just around the corner.”
Defoe remains one of the most beloved figures in Tottenham’s modern history.
He scored 143 goals in two games at White Hart Lane, making him the sixth highest scorer in the club’s history.
He still has a chance to land his dream role later in his career, but for now the task ahead is to push for promotion with the Cardinals, where he will aim to prove he has what it takes to be a top-tier manager.
Spurs’ search for manager continues despite Igor Tudor’s departure
News of Defoe’s appointment comes at a turbulent time for his former club.
Tottenham are currently on the market for a third manager this season following the departure of Igor Tudor on Sunday.
The vacancy is seen as one of the most high-pressure roles in European football, with Spurs sitting just one point above the relegation zone in the Premier League.
Roberto De Zerbi is their top target and Spurs are reportedly working hard to sign him immediately.
If Roberto De Zerbi is not convinced of the role at this stage, Sean Dyche, Glenn Hoddle and other names remain short-term options.
