King appointed assistant at Tottenham and Formosinho leaves
King made 323 appearances for Tottenham
Written by Simon Austin — August 7, 2020
FORMER Tottenham captain Ledley King has been appointed as one of Jose Mourinho’s assistants at the club.
The club said one of the 39-year-old’s duties would be to “support our Academy players as they look to step up to the first team.”
This kind of development role is becoming more and more prevalent at top clubs.
“Ledley will join as a member of our first-team staff, working alongside the coaches, analysts and playing squad both at the Training Centre and on matchdays,” the club said in a statement.
King came through Tottenham’s Academy before making 323 senior appearances during a 13-year career. After retiring in 2012, he became a club ambassador.
Head Coach Mourinho said: “I am extremely pleased to be welcoming Ledley into the first-team group as we continue our preparations for the new season. 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.”
Mourinho did something similar at Manchester United when he appointed club legend Michael Carrick as one of his assistants at the end of the 2017/18 season.
Meanwhile, tactical analyst Ricardo Formosinho has left the club. This is significant, because Mourinho has now cut ties with his Porto past when it comes to staff.
He had worked with compatriot Formosinho since his Champions League-winning days with the Portuguese club and also had him on his team at Real Madrid and Chelsea.
The other members of that Portuguese 'inner circle' were Rui Faria, who left Manchester United at the end of 2017/18 after 17 years as Mourinho’s right-hand man, and goalkeeper coach Silvino Louro, who did not move with him to Tottenham.
Instead, Mourinho brought in a couple of coaches from Lille on the recommendation of his friend Luis Campos, who was the club's Director of Football. Joao Sacramento came to the North London side as assistant and Nuno Santos as goalkeeper coach.
