Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe has taken up his first head coaching position as manager of National League club Woking FC. The appointment comes as the fifth-division side sits mid-table in the standings. Club chairman Todd Johnson praised Defoe's vision and leadership qualities.
Woking FC confirmed the appointment of Jermain Defoe as their new manager on Sunday. Defoe, an OBE recipient, scored 143 goals for Tottenham Hotspur across two spells, ranking seventh on the club's all-time scoring list. He returned to Spurs a couple of years ago to coach in their academy, managing the U18s until departing in December 2024, and has since worked as a TV pundit while earning his coaching badges. Now, he steps into his first senior managerial role with Woking, a mid-table team in the National League, England's fifth tier. Chairman Todd Johnson highlighted Defoe's credentials in a club statement. > Jermain’s achievements as a player speak for themselves, but what stood out to us during the process was how he sees the game, how he drives standards, and his approach to leadership and player development. > > We have a clear plan for where we want to go as a club, and we believe Jermain is the right person to build on the strong foundations already in place and help take us forward in the next phase of that journey. The news coincided with Tottenham's announcement of Igor Tudor's departure by mutual consent. Defoe is set for an introductory press conference on Wednesday, following Woking's Tuesday home match against Altrincham, which will likely be his first game in charge.