Tottenham Legend Ledley King Joins First-Team Staff

Tottenham Hotspur have appointed club legend and former captain Ledley King in the new role of ‘First Team Assistant’, which will see the 39-year-old work alongside the coaching staff, analysts and players at the training ground and on matchdays.

King has already been a Spurs ambassador since his retirement at the age of just 31 in 2012, with his years of injury struggles ultimately curtailing his career early.

King, who went on to play 323 games for Spurs after first joining the club as an apprentice in 1996, will also be taking a support role to assist academy player making the step up to senior level.

“I am extremely pleased to be welcoming Ledley into the first team group as we continue our preparations for the new season,” coach Jose Mourinho told the club’s official website.

“He has a tremendous affinity with this football club and the fans appreciate just how much he has accomplished as a true Spurs man both on and off the pitch.

“We have developed a good relationship since I arrived, and we hope to use his experience and insight to support the work we are doing with the squad.”

King was the last Spurs captain to win a major trophy when he lifted the League Cup at Wembley in 2008, while his time at the club coincided with the rise into regular Champions League contention.

Having missed out on Champions League football for the first time since 2015 after four consecutive top four finishes, the current Spurs squad and staff will hope to draw on the invaluable experience and knowledge King amassed during his own playing days.

The new 2020/21 Premier League season is already just five weeks away and it will be crucial to hit the ground running as six or more clubs battle for places at the top end of the table.

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