Former West Ham striker Jermain Defoe has agreed to become the new manager of National League club Woking.
Defoe has previously coached at Tottenham and Rangers and will now take his first job in the hot seat.
The 43-year-old will eventually be tasked with winning promotion to League Two for the first time in Woking’s history.
How do YOU look back on Jermain Defoe?
Did he ruin his legacy?
Jermain Defoe of West Ham during the Nationwide Football League Division one match between West Ham United and Sunderland at Upton Park on December 13, 2003 in London.
Ex-West Ham man Jermain Defoe takes over as Woking manager
Defoe’s illustrious playing career started at West Ham, where he scored 40 goals in 104 appearances in all competitions.
Unfortunately, his relationship with the Hammers disintegrated when he submitted a transfer request and pushed for a move to Tottenham.
Defoe would go on to play 363 times for Spurs, scoring 143 goals, while he also enjoyed spells at Portsmouth, Sunderland, Rangers and more.
His first coaching role was part of Steven Gerrard’s backroom team at Rangers during the 2021/22 season.
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Defoe’s next job was back at Tottenham as a club ambassador and academy coach from August 2022 to July 2024.
Jermain Defoe during the Premier League match between Everton and West Ham United at Hill Dickinson Stadium
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Two years later, he has taken his first step into management at Woking in the National League.
Woking have played in the fifth tier of English football for nine of the last 10 seasons, finishing fourth in the 2022/23 campaign.
Club Chairman Todd Johnson has decided that Defoe gives them their best chance of progressing to the EFL.
“We have a clear plan for where we want to go as a club, and we believe Jermain is the right person to build on the strong foundations already in place and help take us forward in the next phase of that journey,” he said in a club statement.
Meanwhile, Defoe added: “Woking is a historic club with huge potential, and I’m thrilled to be part of this exciting project. I can’t wait to get started.”
The former England international will hold an introductory media session at 10:30 am on Wednesday, 1st April at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox