Jermain Defoe breaks silence on lack of managerial opportunities after informal Sunderland talks

Jermain Defoe says he “had no right” to walk straight into a top-level managerial job despite his playing career, as he begins life in management with Woking.

The former England striker, who spent the majority of his career in the Premier League, has been working within Tottenham Hotspur’s academy setup since retiring in 2022 while waiting for an opportunity at senior level.

He has spoken regularly about his ambition to move into management and his desire to see more Black coaches given chances within the game. Speaking to Mirror Football, Defoe said: “You have to start somewhere. You have to respect any level; it's not easy at any level. I feel like you have to appreciate the opportunities that you've got.

“I listened to Ashley Cole in the week, speaking about the lack of opportunities, and I was told the same thing, 'You haven't got the experience,' even though I've got someone with me in Paul Bracewell, who has got 35 years in the game. He's done every badge there is to do, every course there is to do with me.

“As well as the boys who are already here. It was frustrating at times because I thought, even though I haven't got the experience, how do you go about getting experience? By getting opportunities! It wasn't there, but the guys at Woking gave me the opportunity to kickstart my career and hopefully have a long career as a manager in the game. You have to appreciate any opportunity, then once you get the opportunity, you have to perform and do well.”

Defoe, now 43, was previously linked with a managerial role at Sunderland and has said he held informal talks with the club in 2024, though he never formally interviewed. In contrast, former teammates such as Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney have all been handed opportunities in the top two tiers.

Reflecting on his own pathway, Defoe added: “No, I just feel like just because you play at the top level your whole career, there's no guarantee you're going to be a top manager. I feel like you have to bide your time. You have to start somewhere and appreciate the opportunity that you've been given.

“Also, put your ego to one side. Just because I've played in the Premier League my whole life, I shouldn't get a Premier League job or a Championship job. It's not as easy as that. Of course, there are players that have been given opportunities.

“There are players that have come from academies and gone straight into Premier League or big jobs. Some have done well, some haven't. Everyone has different journeys. If you go back to look at a Graham Potter or a Roy Hodgson, look at their journeys; they didn't start at the top. Like I said: a lot of players do. Wherever you start, you have to do well.”

Since taking charge at National League side Woking last month, Defoe has made an encouraging start. His side remain unbeaten across his opening five matches, drawing with Eastleigh, Braintree and Yeovil Town, while recording wins over Morecambe and Gateshead.

Asked how he has found life in management so far, Defoe joked: “Stressed. Nah, when you win, it's always nice isn't it? As a player, it's amazing - it makes your weekend. As a manager, I was told it was even better. At times it's stressful on the bench, but when you work on something and the players go out and execute what you've been working on in training, even when you're giving players information a few hours before the game, and they go out and execute it, it's such a good feeling.”

With little left to play for this season, Defoe is using the remaining fixtures to assess his squad ahead of the summer. “For me, it's an opportunity to have a look at the players with fresh eyes,” he said. “We've changed the team in probably every game to be fair. That's normal. We've not had a lot of training sessions, to be honest, because it's been back-to-back.

“Play, recover, play and recover again. We've not had a lot to do on the grass where you can look at the players in training. But saying that, the boys have responded amazingly. The atmosphere, the standards, everything; the boys have been brilliant, and I want to thank them for that. There's only one game left, and I wish there was 10 games left. It's always a nice feeling when you win but that's the sort of culture and environment that we want to try and create.”

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Defoe first joined Sunderland from Toronto FC in January 2015 and quickly established himself as the club’s leading striker. He scored 15 goals in the 2015-16 Premier League season, playing a key role in Sunderland’s survival under Sam Allardyce. His most memorable moment came in April 2015, when he scored a long-range volley in the Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle United.

Defoe remained Sunderland’s standout performer during the 2016-17 campaign, finishing as top scorer with 15 league goals despite the club’s relegation from the Premier League. In total, he scored 37 goals in 93 appearances for the Black Cats. His form earned a recall to the England squad in 2017 before he left Sunderland that summer following relegation. The striker returned to the club briefly in League One under Alex Neil before eventually bringing his playing career to a close.

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