Defoe and Toure join staff

Spurs have today confirmed several additions of a prestigious pedigree to their academy coaching staff via the club’s official website.

Firstly, Simon Davies has become the “Head of Coaching Methodology” – this is not the Welsh midfielder who played for us and Fulham over ten years ago, but rather a graduate of Manchester United’s “Class of 92” who was most recently working in Anderlecht’s backroom coaching staff in Belgium with Vincent Kompany. Davies also has over ten years of experience in coaching and development roles at Manchester City’s academy.

More notable, however, are the additions of Yaya Toure and club legend Jermain Defoe to the academy coaching staff. Title-winning powerhouse Toure has taken over as manager of the Under-16 team; having a proven winner coaching players so young will sow the seeds of a winning mentality at a foundational level within the club, which can only be good news. Indeed, the amount that Toure has won over his career is ridiculous: this includes three Premier Leagues, two League Cups, and an FA Cup with Manchester City; a Champions League, two La Ligas and a Copa Del Rey with Barcelona; and an Africa Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast. He can therefore be an invaluable source of knowledge for our youngsters and pass on his infectious winning mentality.

Signifcantly, Jermain Defoe has returned to the club as both an academy coach, where he will provide his expertise to players from Under-17 to Under-21 level, and a club ambassador. Great news all around!