Rangers favourite Jermain Defoe has returned to Tottenham Hotspur as a youth coach and club ambassador in his first move after retirement.
The former England striker left Ibrox earlier this year for an emotional return to Sunderland, but it quickly became clear he no longer had the energy to play professionally, and retired aged 39. Defoe was back at Rangers to take in a friendly with Spurs earlier this summer, another of his ex-employers, and he's with the Premier League club permanently now as a member of their academy coaching staff and club ambassador.
After initially joining the Light Blues on loan in 2019 from Bournemouth, the clinical forward made his Rangers move permanent, scoring 32 times over 74 appearances and claiming Premiership title glory under Steven Gerrard last year. A statement from Tottenham on Defoe's return to London reads: "We are delighted to announce that Jermain Defoe has returned to the club.
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"Popular former striker ‘JD’ needs no introduction to anyone at Spurs, or indeed anyone in the game. A former England international, he scored 143 goals in 363 appearances in our colours over two spells between 2004 and 2014, making him the sixth-highest goalscorer in our history.
"Already part of the fabric of our club thanks to his work on and off the pitch during his previous spells with us – Jermain was awarded an OBE in 2018 for his charitable work.
"He now begins the next phase of his career by joining our academy set-up. Jermain also assumes the position of club ambassador as part of his new role Welcome home, JD!"
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