'That's the dream' - Rangers hero open to management return one day as life after Ibrox breeds new challenge
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Sunderland star spent two-and-a-half years at Ibrox
Former Rangers striker Jermain Defoe says he’d be open to an Ibrox management return one day.
The ex Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur striker spent two-and-a-half years in Govan, where he scored 32 goals and helped his side to the Premiership title glory in the 2020/21 season under manager Steven Gerrard. Defoe returned briefly to the Stadium of Light in 2022 before hanging up his playing boots later that year.
Since retirement, the 43-year old has entered the coaching game and took charge of his first job in management with National League side Woking earlier this year, but left after just six games in charge. Speaking to former Gers striker Kris Boyd and ex Celtic marksman Chris Sutton on The Warm-Up, the former England international wouldn’t rule out an Ibrox return.
Defoe on potential Rangers management return
When asked if he’d ever return to Ibrox in a managerial capacity by Boyd, Defoe responded: “That’s the dream innit, I’d love that! The suit, the tie, it’d be great. The reason I’d go back in (to coaching) is because I think I could do well.
“I felt like I did my two years at Tottenham, done all the courses, even though the courses can't prepare you for what it's really like. It just can't prepare you for what you have to go through. But at the same time, I feel like I'd do well; I would enjoy it."
Defoe remains friends with ex England teammate and Rangers manager Gerrard to this day. After Rangers the Liverpool legend left for Aston Villa before managing Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League. Gerrard is now a pundit for TNT Sports.
Defoe on taking the Gerrard route
While Defoe has enjoyed a few punditry gigs himself, he maintains he’s happiest when ‘on the grass’. He added: “When I'm in the stadium and I'm looking around, I'm looking at the players and I'm like, ‘you're the luckiest men in the world.’ I wish I could just do it one more time.
“I just love being on the grass. I spoke to Steven (Gerrard) about it before I left, and he spoke about, he'd done BT Sport, he'd done some media and he'd done coaching at Liverpool, and he said he knew very quickly which he preferred.He said, I just love being on the grass. And that's how I felt. When I went back to Tottenham and I was planning the sessions, I was doing the sessions, getting feedback from the boys, like I said, kicking balls and joining in.”
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