Jermain Defoe reveals who Tottenham coaches wanted Daniel Levy to hire before Postecoglou
Jermain Defoe has shed light on the discussions that took place behind the scenes at Tottenham Hotspur before the club ultimately appointed Ange Postecoglou as their manager in 2023.
According to the former Spurs striker, Thomas Tuchel, the newly appointed England national team boss, was a name that excited many within the club’s coaching staff during their search for Antonio Conte’s successor.
Defoe, who was working as an academy coach at Tottenham at the time, revealed that Tuchel’s reputation for meticulous preparation and high-energy coaching sessions made him a highly desirable candidate among the club’s staff.
Defoe shared these insights during an interview with talkSPORT, explaining that the prospect of Tuchel taking over at Tottenham had generated significant buzz among the coaches.
“I was in the Tottenham academy coaching for two years. Before Ange got the job, I had a conversation with some of the coaches,” Defoe said. “We were actually saying, ‘Cor, if we got Thomas Tuchel here.’ We’d heard about his attention to detail and his coaching methods.
Even speaking to Harry [Kane], he mentioned how Tuchel’s sessions, the energy he brings, and the level of detail he provides are unbelievable. That’s what they say.”
Interestingly, Tuchel’s name has resurfaced in the headlines following his appointment as England’s new manager. The German coach is set to begin his tenure with World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia, marking the start of what many hope will be a successful era for the Three Lions.
While James Maddison and Djed Spence missed out on spots in Tuchel’s first squad, Dominic Solanke has retained his role as Harry Kane’s understudy in the national team setup. In an alternate scenario, however, Tuchel could have been managing these players at Tottenham, as he was reportedly considered for the Spurs job before Postecoglou’s arrival.
Defoe, a Tottenham legend with a deep understanding of the club’s culture, believes that Tuchel’s appointment as England manager is a positive step for the national team.
Despite ongoing debates about whether England should have opted for a homegrown coach, Defoe emphasized the importance of hiring the best candidate for the job, regardless of nationality.
He drew parallels to his own experiences playing under foreign managers like Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello, highlighting how their expertise and leadership left a lasting impression on him.
“I played under Sven and Capello, and not once did I ever think, ‘Capello is Italian,’” Defoe explained. “I just thought, ‘This is Fabio Capello.’ He came in with such presence, and his CV spoke for itself. The players he managed and the clubs he worked with were top-tier. I thought, ‘This is the best man, one of the best out there. Hopefully, we can win with him in charge.’”
Defoe’s comments reflect a broader sentiment that success on the international stage should take precedence over the nationality of the coach.
Tuchel’s reputation as a tactically astute and detail-oriented manager has earned him respect across the football world. His ability to inspire players and deliver results, as evidenced by his Champions League triumph with Chelsea, makes him a strong candidate to lead England to glory.
Defoe’s endorsement of Tuchel’s methods and his belief in the German’s potential to bring success to the national team underscore the excitement surrounding his appointment.
As Tuchel prepares to embark on his journey with England, the footballing world will be watching closely to see if he can translate his club-level success to the international stage.
For Tottenham fans, the revelation that Tuchel was once a serious contender for the Spurs job adds an intriguing layer to the club’s recent history. While Postecoglou has since taken the reins at Tottenham, the “what if” scenario of Tuchel managing the likes of Kane, Maddison, and Solanke at club level remains a fascinating footnote in the ever-evolving narrative of English football.