Tottenham Announces The Return Of Jermain Defoe As Academy Coach And Ambassador.

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the appointment of club legend Jermain Defoe as an academy coach and Spurs ambassador.

The former England striker, 39, returns to the team where he spent two spells as a player, scoring 143 goals in 363 appearances in the process.

It is a second coaching role for Defoe after a brief stint with Rangers, where he spent the majority of his latter playing years before a final short spell back at Sunderland and retiring in March.

He will work across the age groups between Under-17 and U21 level, as well as helping carry out Tottenham’s work in the community, engage with their global fanbase and supporting club club partners.

It is the latest move by Spurs in an ongoing revamping of their youth setup, which has also seen former Spurs player Simon Davies take up the role of head of methodology in the academy at Hotspur Way.

"We are delighted to announce that Jermain Defoe has returned to the Club as a member of our Academy coaching staff and Club Ambassador... Said an official announcement released via the club's website on Friday morning.

"Popular former striker ‘JD’ needs no introduction to anyone at Spurs, or indeed anyone in the game. 

“Welcome home, JD!”

Bournemouth manager Scott Parker and Ryan Mason, who now assists Tottenham’s first-team boss Antonio Conte after a previous stint in caretaker charge, both earned their first coaching jobs in the club’s academy, while Ledley King briefly worked under former manager Jose Mourinho.