Ryan Mason replaces Cristian Stellini as Tottenham’s Interim Head Coach

Mason will take over from Stellini for the remainder of the season in his second stint as Spurs’ Interim Head Coach

Less than a month after the departure of Antonio Conte, it was announced by Spurs on Monday evening that Interim Head Coach Cristian Stellini had left the club with immediate effect. This came in the wake of some very disappointing results, culminating in that heavy defeat against Newcastle United on Sunday.

Former Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason has been appointed as the Lilywhites’ new Interim Head Coach for the remaining 6 Premier League games of the season against Manchester United, Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Brentford and Leeds United.

In a statement, Spurs Chairman Daniel Levy said (Via Spurs’ Website):

“Cristian will leave his current role along with his coaching staff. Cristian stepped in at a difficult point in our season and I want to thank him for the professional manner in which he and his coaching staff have conducted themselves during such a challenging time. We wish him and his staff well.

“Ryan Mason will take over Head Coach duties with immediate effect. Ryan knows the Club and the players well. We shall update further on his coaching staff in due course.

“I met with the Player Committee today – the squad is determined to pull together to ensure the strongest possible finish to the season. We are all clear we need to deliver performances which earn your amazing support.”

This will be Mason’s second spell at Spurs as Interim Head Coach. His first stint in charge came in the late stages of the 2020/21 season following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, where he took charge for the last 6 games of that season as well.

Under Mason’s leadership Tottenham won 4 of these matches, with perhaps the most eye catching results coming against Sheffield United and Leicester City, who they beat 2-0 and 4-2 respectively.

The match against the Foxes was on the final day and was crucial – the winners would qualify for the Champions League. Thankfully for Tottenham, they won the match and in doing so secured a top 4 spot.

Overall, the Lilywhites scored 14 goals in Mason’s six games in charge whilst conceding 8 times.

As a player, Ryan Mason played just over half a century of games for Spurs, making 53 appearances between 2008 and 2016. His debut for Tottenham was in a UEFA Cup (Now Europa League) match against NEC Nijmegen as a substitute for Daniel Bentley in a 1-0 win.

Following loan spells at Yeovil Town and Doncaster Rovers, Mason went on loan to Millwall with a certain Harry Kane in a short lived spell at the Lions in January 2012.

The midfielder spent the latter half of the 2012/13 season on loan at French club Lorient. This then led to a loan spell at Swindon Town for the duration of the 2013/14 season, making 18 appearances with 5 goals to boot.

Mason moved to Hull City on a permanent deal ahead of the 2016/17 season, making a total of 16 appearances for the Tigers.

His career was cut short the following season (2017/18) by a horrific head injury that he picked up against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, which forced him to retire from playing in February 2018.

He began his coaching career at Spurs in April 2018, before being made an academy coach for the U19 side in July 2019. Mason was then appointed as the head of player development in August 2020, with his first stint as interim Head Coach coming a year later in April 2021.

Spurs can still secure European Football in some form for next season and there are plenty of points available to potentially finish the 2022/23 season on a high.

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