Ryan Mason insists Tottenham job is 'appealing' despite knock-backs

01 May 2021 12:15

Tottenham Hotspur interim manager Ryan Mason has insisted that the club remains an appealing prospect to any coach, despite favoured managerial options appearing to snub the job.

The 29-year-old was appointed interim manager at Spurs following the sacking of Jose Mourinho and has overseen two games to date - beating Southampton 2-1 in the Premier League before losing to Manchester City 1-0 in the Carabao Cup final.

Spurs had been linked with highly-rated managerial duo Julian Nagelsmann and Erik ten Hag in recent weeks, while it's 90min's understanding that Brendan Rodgers has been the club's primary target to replace Mourinho for quite some time.

But Nagelsmann will instead join Bayern Munich at the beginning of next season, Ten Hag has opted to renew his contract at Ajax and Rodgers has said he's not interested in taking over - with current club Leicester City in the running to secure Champions League football.

Despite those knock-backs, Mason is adamant that Tottenham remain an attractive proposition, highlighting the stature and facilities of the club in his most recent press conference.

“This is Tottenham Hotspur Football Club,” Mason said before his side host Sheffield United on Sunday evening (via Evening Standard). “There’s always going to be people interested. We have the best stadium in the world in my opinion. And also the best training complex in the world. It’s a fantastic group of players and a fantastic fanbase.

Julian Nagelsmann was believed to be Spurs' number one target | Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

“So of course it’s going to be appealing. It’s a great football club. I’m probably biased because I feel passionately about it. But it’s a big football club.”

With no offers on the table, Spurs could turn their attentions to Ralf Rangnick, Scott Parker and Graham Potter as realistic alternatives - though Mason is prepared to throw his own name into the ring, despite his lack of experience.

“It’s easy to say he’s young, he’s unprepared," Mason continued. "Yes, of course I don’t have the top-flight experience that a 40- or 50-year-old would have but what I do have is 20 years of experience with this football club, I know everyone whether that’s the kit-man, the cleaners, the groundsman, I know everyone. Everyone knows me.

"I have personal relationships with everyone in this football club so you can’t underestimate how important that is in an organisation.

Ryan Mason congratulates his players following the 2-1 victory over Southampton | Pool/Getty Images

"I’ve been very lucky that I had one of, if not the best, coach educators in the world in terms of John McDermott. I was very lucky to come back and work with him.

"I had the exposure of seeing how Mauricio and his coaching team worked and also Jose and his coaching team as well, so in my three-and-a-half years as a coach I’ve been exposed to more than some people get exposed to in 20, 30 years of coaching.”

Source: 90min