Jermain Defoe announced as new manager of Woking FC

SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 14: Television pundit Jermain Defoe before the Premier League match between Sunderland and Newcastle United at Stadium of Light on December 14, 2025 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images) | Visionhaus/Getty Images Well here’s some fun news! Former Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermain Defoe has landed his first head coaching job as the new manager of National League side Woking FC.

Woking Football Club is pleased to confirm the appointment of Jermain Defoe as the club’s new Manager. ♦️ — Woking Football Club (@wokingfc) March 29, 2026 JD Trouble, OBE, is known as one of Spurs’ best strikers. He’s seventh on the club’s all-time scoring list with 143 goals, scored over two different stints at the club.

A couple of years ago he came back to Spurs to work in Tottenham’s academy, where he ended up managing the U18s before leaving in December 2024. He’s worked as a TV pundit in the interim while completing his coaching badges, and now will get his first shot at the big chair, working with a Woking side that’s currently mid-table in the fifth division. In a statement on the club’s website, Woking chairman Todd Johnson said they have big expectations of Defoe and that he impressed them in his interviews.

“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. “We have a clear plan for where we want to go as a club, and we believe Jermain is the right person to build on the strong foundations already in place and help take us forward in the next phase of that journey. ” The announcement comes on the same day that Tottenham announced the departure of Igor Tudor by mutual consent.