Jermain Defoe Leaves Woking After Short Tenure as Manager
Former England striker Jermain Defoe has called his first experience as a manager an “eye-opening experience” following his departure from National League club Woking, where he served for just four months. Defoe, who took over for Neal Ardley in March, managed to win two of the six league matches he oversaw, leading the team to a 10th-placed finish last season.
On Thursday, Woking announced that Defoe’s time with the club has come to an end, stating they had “mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect,” just two weeks ahead of their new campaign opener against Sutton United.
“Unfortunately, circumstances have ultimately made it impossible for me to continue in the position,” Defoe remarked in an Instagram post.
He added, “I am extremely proud of the work undertaken during my time at the club and genuinely felt that we were building something special.” Defoe described his managerial stint as an experience that will make him stronger for future challenges.
Woking’s pre-season concluded with a 1-0 loss to Braintree Town, marking Defoe’s final match in charge. Over his career, Defoe scored 305 goals in 763 senior appearances for several clubs, including West Ham, Tottenham, Portsmouth, and Sunderland, before retiring in 2022.
Additionally, Defoe, who netted 20 goals in 57 international matches, served on an interim coaching staff at Rangers in 2021 and later worked within the Tottenham academy before pursuing a full-time managerial position this year.