Tottenham Hotspur

Ryan Mason, Mile Jedinak among Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham coaching staff

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 27 June 2023

Tottenham Hotspur confirm Ange Postecoglou's five-man coaching team, which includes Ryan Mason and former Australia international Mile Jedinak.

Tottenham Hotspur have announced a five-man coaching team to support new manager Ange Postecoglou for the 2023-24 season.

The former Celtic and Australia boss was officially appointed as Spurs' new head coach on a four-year deal earlier this month following a protracted managerial search.

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy welcomed Postecoglou to the club after being left frustrated in his pursuit of several high-profile names, including Julian Nagelsmann, Luis Enrique, Arne Slot and Xabi Alonso.

Nevertheless, Levy has shown faith in the Celtic treble-winner with a long-running contract until 2027, and Tottenham have now confirmed Postecoglou's backroom staff, which includes Ryan Mason.

The 31-year-old - who served as an assistant to Antonio Conte and Cristian Stellini - took over as interim head coach for the second time last season, having also replaced Jose Mourinho at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

Mile Jedinak in action for Villa in October 2018 © Reuters

Mason confirmed that he would be open to taking the job permanently, but won just two of his six matches after taking the reins from Stellini as Tottenham missed out on a spot in Europe with an eighth-placed finish.

Nevertheless, the ex-Tottenham midfielder was reported to have attracted interest from England and abroad with regard to a manager's job, but he has opted to stay on as an assistant to Postecoglou following positive talks with the Australian.

With John Kennedy remaining at Celtic to help Brendan Rodgers, Tottenham have hired Chris Davies as Postecoglou's senior assistant following a largely positive spell at Leicester City.

Davies was part of Rodgers's coaching staff at Swansea City, Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester, helping the Foxes win the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2021 before departing alongside the Northern Irishman in April.

The 38-year-old also served as Jurgen Klopp's assistant for 12 games at Liverpool before working under Brian McDermott's wing at Reading, whom he briefly represented as a player alongside New Zealand outfits Hawke's Bay and Team Wellington.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou applauds fans after the match on April 8, 2023 © Reuters

Davies is one of two new faces to join Tottenham, who have also brought former Australia international Mile Jedinak to the club as another one of Postecoglou's assistant managers.

The 38-year-old has worked as a youth team coach and Loan Player Manager at Aston Villa since retiring in 2020, having made 90 Premier League appearances for the Lions and Crystal Palace.

Jedinak served as Australia captain under Postecoglou, winning the 2015 Asian Cup and continuing to play a prominent role after the latter's exit, scoring twice at the 2018 World Cup.

Goalkeeping coach Rob Burch has also returned to his boyhood club after a seven-year spell coaching the youth team between 2012 and 2019, before taking on similar roles with England Under-20s, Fulham, Bournemouth and Club Brugge, the latter three of which came under Scott Parker.

Finally, ex-academy product Matt Wells - who has also supported Parker in an assistant head coach capacity - will stay on after serving as one of Mason's lieutenants towards the end of last season.