Soccer-Defoe returns to Spurs in academy role, Toure joins as U16 coach

Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe has joined the club’s academy coaching staff, while former Manchester City and Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure has been appointed as Under-16 coach, the Premier League side announced on Friday.

Defoe, 39, scored 143 goals in 363 appearances for Spurs across two spells between 2004 and 2014. “(Defoe) will work closely alongside our existing coaching team to lend his vast experience and knowledge to young players across the Under-17 to Under-21 age categories,” Tottenham said in a statement https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2022/august/jermain-defoe-returns.

Capped 57 times by England, Defoe also had spells at Portsmouth, Sunderland, Bournemouth and Rangers before retiring from the sport in March. He briefly held the role of player-coach under Steven Gerrard at the Scottish club. Former Ivory Coast midfielder Toure won three Premier League titles between 2010-18 at City after joining them from Barca, where he won a host of honours including the Champions League and LaLiga.

Toure was previously assistant coach at Ukrainian club Olimpik Donetsk and Russian side Akhmat Grozny. The 39-year-old had an initial spell working with Tottenham’s academy staff during the second half of last season before taking up the role of Under-16 coach.

Spurs, who beat visiting Southampton 4-1 in their league opener, travel to Chelsea on Sunday.

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