Mason’s crazy journey into the Spurs hot seat
RYAN MASON believes his eventful playing career will stand him in good stead to manage Tottenham for the rest of the season.
The former Spurs midfielder has been confirmed as caretaker boss until the end of the campaign after Monday’s sacking of Jose Mourinho.
Just 29, he may be unlikely to land the job on a full-time basis – the club are being heavily linked with a summer move for RB Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann – but has the chance to make an impact in the six remaining Premier League games and even lift a trophy, with Spurs facing Manchester City in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final.
Mason’s playing career came to a shuddering halt in 2017 after suffering a near-fatal head injury while playing for Hull against Chelsea and he was eventually forced to hang up his boots a year later.
‘I thought now I would still be playing football and in my prime but it is a crazy, crazy sport,’ said Mason.
‘I’ve experienced serious injury,
I want to be happy and to have experiences I look back on when I’m older
fighting for my life, coming back, having to retire and coming back as a coach. Nothing can prepare you for [retirement] – but my main priority was to get my health back.’
Mason begins his managerial career with tonight’s league fixture at home to Southampton before Sunday’s Wembley showpiece with City.
He added: ‘My whole life I’ve been preparing for moments and you can do all the preparation in the world but, until you’re in it, you won’t know.
‘I want to be positive, I want to be happy and have experiences I look back on when I’m older. I want to work hard. Maybe experience has shaped me to be where I am today.’
The former England international said he has exchanged texts with the man who gave him his top-flight debut, Mauricio Pochettino but had not spoken to Mourinho.
‘Yes, we’ve exchanged a few messages and with his coaching team. He’s a busy man,’ he replied when asked about the Argentinian. On Mourinho, however, he added: ‘No, I didn’t get the opportunity.’
THEY SAID IT ‘Tottenham is a fantastic club but my focus is here... I have a great connection with the players, the board and we have plans to keep progressing.’ Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers tried to dampen speculation he could be off to Spurs, adding: ‘You can’t stop gossip but I don’t think about it’