Ryan Mason should probably become the new coach of Anderlecht. After a forced end to his playing career at the age of 26 due to a serious head injury, Mason made his return to the world of football as a manager at Tottenham Hotspur.
His career was abruptly cut short when an MRI revealed he was at high risk of developing illnesses such as dementia and epilepsy. “I had to think about my family,” said Ryan Mason at the time.
Following his rehabilitation, Mason started at Tottenham as a youth coach and rose through the ranks to become ‘Head of Academic Training’. He even took the reins twice as interim coach, first after the departure of José Mourinho in 2021, then after that of Antonio Conte in 2023.
Despite results that were not always positive, Mason was praised for his tactical approach. He enjoyed support from both the playing group and fans, cementing his reputation as a promising young coach.
Despite Tottenham ultimately choosing more experienced coaches, such as Ange Postecoglou, Mason surprisingly remained as an assistant. However, he learned a lot from the coaches he worked with, such as Mauricio Pochettino, José Mourinho and Antonio Conte. These great coaches left their mark on Mason and gave him valuable knowledge in tactics, people management and pressure management at the highest level.
It now appears Mason is ready for a new challenge outside of Tottenham. As Anderlecht’s possible new coach, he could bring his experience with big Premier League coaches to Lotto Park. Although he has little experience as a head coach, he can count on lessons learned from the best coaches in the world.
