Jermain Defoe is not keeping his love for Rangers quiet amid links with a coaching role under Steven Gerrard.
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Former Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham striker Jermain Defoe has fuelled rumours that he may return to Rangers in a coaching capacity following the sacking of Russell Martin last weekend.
The Glasgow giants have been at the centre of the football world’s talk over the international break having ended Martin’s turbulent tenure at Ibrox. Several candidates have been linked with replacing the former Southampton man but the frontrunner remains Steven Gerrard.
The 45-year-old spent three years in charge of Rangers between 2018 and 2021, winning the Scottish Premiership in his final season with the club. Gerrard is currently out of work having left Saudi side Al-Ettifaq by mutual consent in January.
Jermain Defoe sends Rangers managerial message
Defoe, who has managerial ambitions himself, appeared to have put himself in the shop window for Rangers. The ex talisman spent three years at Rangers between 2019 and 2022, initially as a player and then in a coaching capacity. When Gerrard left the club in November 2021, Defoe was named as part of a four-man caretaker team responsible for the side until a permanent appointment was made.
The 43-year-old’s desire to work as a manager has been well documented following his retirement from football in 2022. Defoe broke into first team football at West Ham and went on to enjoy three separate stints at Tottenham Hotspur.
He helped Spurs to win the League Cup in 2008 and was named Player of the Year for the North London side in 2004. He played 363 times for Spurs and 104 times for the Hammers, the two clubs he represented on the most occasions.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, when asked about the Rangers vacancy, Defoe said: “I’ve done all my coaching badges and if I got an opportunity to come back to that club to help this group of players then it would be a no-brainer. I said it from day one as soon as I retired. It’s well documented, the time I had there and winning arguably the most important league in the club’s history.
“Myself, Steven [Gerrard], and all the boys did that and it was amazing to be a part of it. It’s more than just a football club and I think I understood what it was about. I understood when you put on a Rangers shirt you have to win and the demands and the standards.”
Ex Spurs and West Ham makes cryptic social media posts
Since then, with Gerrard emerging as the frontrunner, teamTALK reported that Defoe could be appointed at Ibrox but in a coaching capacity to work under Gerrard. Gary McAllister was also named as a staff member that the Liverpool legend would want should he return.
Now, a series of social media posts by Defoe appear to hint at a readiness to return. The Premier League legend uploaded stories to his Instagram account, one showing a Rangers training jacket and another a jug, seemingly given to him as part of the title triumph he was involved in. The first of those images included the caption “WATP”, which is an acronym for “We Are The People”.
In other news, Tottenham handed £100m international break boost ahead of January transfer window.