Jermain Defoe has been named the new manager of National League club Woking, securing his first permanent role in charge of a senior team.
The 43-year-old former England and Tottenham striker brings limited experience on the touchline but has harboured ambitions of moving into management since hanging up his boots in 2022.
The fifth-tier outfit confirmed the appointment of the ex-Three Lions forward, who made 57 appearances for his country and netted 20 international goals during a distinguished playing career that saw him represent clubs including Portsmouth, Sunderland and West Ham.
Since retiring from professional football, Defoe has been building his credentials for a career in the dugout.
He joined Tottenham’s academy setup in August 2022, working specifically with the Under-18 squad at his former club.
The striker also gained senior-level experience during his playing days at Rangers, where he served as caretaker manager in 2021 and assisted Steven Gerrard with coaching duties.
Defoe left his position at Spurs in July 2024, stepping away to concentrate fully on pursuing opportunities in management.
Jermain Defoe will be hoping to work wonders with Woking
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That decision has now paid dividends with his appointment at Woking.
Woking currently occupy 11th position in the National League standings, with only slim prospects of reaching the end-of-season play-offs remaining.
The Surrey-based club parted ways with manager Neal Ardley and his assistant Simon Bassey earlier this month, leaving the position vacant for Defoe to fill.
Jermain Defoe scored 20 goals for England during his career
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The Cards compete in English football’s fifth division, and the new manager will be tasked with improving their fortunes during the remainder of the campaign.
Defoe inherits a squad that has shown inconsistency this season but retains mathematical possibilities of securing a top-seven finish.
Expressing his enthusiasm upon taking the role, Defoe said: “Woking is a historic club with huge potential, and I’m thrilled to be part of this exciting project. I can’t wait to get started.”
Chairman Todd Johnson outlined the reasoning behind selecting the former striker for the position.
“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,” Johnson explained.
The chairman added that the club has a clear vision for its future and believes Defoe can build upon existing foundations.
Jermain Defoe is one of the deadliest strikers in Premier League history
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Paul Bracewell, who like Defoe has connections to both Sunderland and the England national team, will serve as assistant manager at the Kingfield Stadium.
Defoe’s tenure begins immediately, with his first match in charge scheduled for Tuesday evening when Woking host Altrincham.
During his playing days, the prolific forward made 363 appearances across three separate spells at Tottenham, establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s most reliable goalscorers.
His final international cap came in 2017, bringing to a close a nine-year England career that yielded 20 goals from 57 outings.
