Ryan Mason

Tottenham Hotspur

Beginnings

Mason joined the Tottenham Hotspur academy aged eight, before signing a professional contract with the club in August 2008. He made his first-team debut in the group stages of the UEFA Cup on 27 November 2008, coming on as an added-time substitute for David Bentley in a 1–0 away win against Dutch club NEC. During the 2008–09 season he topped the Academy scoring sheets with 29 goals in 31 matches as Spurs finished runners-up in the Premier Academy League.

Loans

On 13 June 2009, Mason went on loan to League One club Yeovil Town, along with teammate Steven Caulker. He made his league debut on 8 August in their first match of the 2009–10 season, a 2–0 win against Tranmere Rovers at Huish Park. Mason made a promising start to his time at Yeovil, scoring from a free kick in his second match against Colchester United albeit in a 1–2 away defeat, and from a long-range strike in their next match against Exeter City to earn an away draw. The goal against Exeter was included in BBC Sport's "Goals of the Week". According to the Spurs website, "after impressing for Terry Skiverton's men at the start of the 2009–10 season, the loan deal was extended for a further three months". Along with fellow Tottenham loanees, Caulker and Jonathan Obika, on 5 November 2009, Mason's loan was extended until May 2010. He was recalled prematurely, on 13 March 2010, after playing 28 league matches and scoring six goals for Yeovil.

In August…

Mason received his first call up to the England under-19 team for the match against Russia, but only made the stand-by list and did not take part in the match. He was called up for European Championship qualification in Slovenia in October 2009. Mason played in two of the three matches and grabbed the second England goal in the 2–0 win over Slovakia to help to ensure England's 100% record. Mason achieved his third and fourth caps for the U19s in friendlies against Turkey and the Netherlands respectively. In February 2011, Mason received a call up to the England under-20 team for their friendly against France, and received his first cap coming on as a 70th-minute substitute in that match. On 23 March 2015, Mason received his first call up to the senior England team for a European qualifier against Lithuania and a friendly against Italy, after Adam Lallana withdrew due to injury. He made his debut in the latter match on the 31st, replacing Jordan Henderson for the last 16 minutes of a 1–1 draw at Juventus Stadium, assisting Andros Townsend's late equaliser.

Tottenham Hotspur

Mason joined the coaching staff of Tottenham Hotspur in April 2018. In February 2019, he suggested that heading should be banned for children. He was made the official academy coach for the Under-19 UEFA Youth League side in July 2019, and then the head of player development (U-17 to U-23) in August 2020. On 20 April 2021, following the dismissal of José Mourinho as head coach, Mason was named interim head coach of Tottenham Hotspur until the end of the season. At the age of 29, he became the youngest manager of a Premier League team; the previous record holder Attilio Lombardo of Crystal Palace was 32. Mason won his first match in charge of Tottenham, who beat Southampton at home 2–1 on 21 April. Four days later, the club lost the 2021 EFL Cup Final by a single goal to Manchester City. He oversaw five more games in charge, winning three and losing two with Tottenham finishing seventh at the end of the season, after a 4–2 victory over Leicester City on the final day of the season. His side finished one point above rivals Arsenal, and secured a UEFA Europa Conference League spot. On 4 November 2021, following the appointment of Antonio Conte as head coach, Mason was promoted to the role of first team coach after impressing Conte during his handling of leading training all week. During Conte's health-related absences in February 2023, Mason worked closely alongside assistant head coach Cristian Stellini in the Tottenham dugout. On 26 March, after…

Mason was born in Enfield, London. As well as attending Enfield Grammar School, Mason attended Cheshunt School and was a District hurdles champion.