Tottenham have confirmed this afternoon that John McDermott is leaving his role as Head of Academy Coaching and Player Development.
The 15-year servant, who guided the likes of Harry Kane, Harry Winks, Danny Rose and, more recently, Japhet Tanganga, through the ranks, will take up a positon as Assistant Technical Director at the FA in June.
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McDermott has been a key cog in the Spurs machine, proving an invaluable asset both on and off the pitch by producing first-team players which have saved Daniel Levy big bucks. His departure may hit Levy the hardest, as the Chairman recently reiterated at a meeting with the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust that making our own stars will continue to trump expensive signings to aid our squad rebuild under Jose Mourinho.
Without McDermott, that becomes a lot harder. Yes, he can be replaced but it could take years for that person to understand and thrive in Levy’s domain. These tweets from well-respected Tottenham voices on Twitter – and a certain graduate of McDermott’s – show what a loss he is.
Big blow that for Tottenham. Huge
— Paul O Keefe (@pokeefe1) March 20, 2020
The best out there!!! A great servant for 15 years at our club, will be a huge miss! Thankyou https://t.co/vhytnDdaKP
— Ryan Mason (@RyanMason) March 20, 2020
Big loss for Spurs as they lose academy head John McDermott to the FA. He’s been involved in developing a lot of talented young Tottenham players who have made it into the first team. https://t.co/73MdhIjcqn
— Alasdair Gold (@AlasdairGold) March 20, 2020
#thfc Massive loss for Spurs as hesd of academy John McDermott departs to take up technical director role at FA. https://t.co/Fi1nSstLQc
— Dan Kilpatrick (@Dan_KP) March 20, 2020
That’s it. All of our most decorated academy staff have now been poached. Build the best facilities, lose the best staff 😤
— Lilywhite Rose (@Lilywhite_Rose) March 20, 2020
John McDermott (England)
Justin Cochrane (England)
Alex Inglethorpe (Liverpool)
Kieran McKenna (Manchester United)
They want to win stuff…its what successful people strive for….unless you are an investment company..
Good luck john mate. and thank you.
The Lilywhite Rose tweet says it all to a T
I’ve worked for him. Ignorant c*ck. Certainly wouldn’t call his tenure a success. 3 players in 15 years. I suppose by ENIC standards that’s success.