Ryan Mason has admitted that Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff have had a big influence on not just the way he thinks about football but also the way he lives his life.
It did come as a surprise when Tottenham decided to give the job to Mason until the end of the season after Jose Mourinho’s sacking on Monday given the 29-year-old’s lack of experience.
Mason, who was serving as the head of youth development at Spurs, insisted that working under two great coaches in Mauricio Pochettino and Jose Mourinho has served as an invaluable experience in preparing him for the challenge that lies ahead.
He told Football.London: “[Pochettino and his coaches] were a massive influence, not just in football but in life.
“They opened my eyes to a lot of things – how you see things, how you react, how you live in a certain way. I had the great privilege of playing under him, an incredible manager.
“I also had the privilege of seeing the coaching team work under Mauricio, but I’ve also had the privilege of watching Jose and his coaching team work as well.
“Two of arguably the best managers in world football. I’ve been very fortunate to see that first hand, to experience that.
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“Obviously, I’m my own person, I have my own ideas but I’d be very silly if I didn’t take things from those two guys because they’ve done so much in the game and they’re very highly thought of in football, and rightly so.”
Pochettino did not just bring Mason back to Tottenham in a coaching capacity after a head injury forced him into early retirement but the Argentine was also the man who handed the former midfielder his Premier League debut back in 2014.
The new Spurs interim boss admitted that the 49-year-old changed his life both on and off the pitch.
“He (Pochettino) changed my life because he gave me an opportunity to play in the Premier League, to play for this football club in a north London derby at the Emirates,” Mason said.
“The fact that he trusted me that much said a lot, it took a lot of courage to give somebody that opportunity. He did so much for me from a professional point of view but also a personal one.”
Spurs have confirmed that Mason will be supported by Chris Powell, Nigel Gibbs and Ledley King, who will continue serving as the first-team assistant, and also revealed that Michel Vorm will be joining the coaching team as the goalkeeping coach.
Mason admitted that Vorm is the sort of personality that the club needs at the moment and confirmed that he expects the Dutchman to join him in the training field once he is done with his quarantining requirements.
The Spurs interim boss said on Vorm: “Mich is currently quarantining due to the rules and guidelines in place.
“Mich is a good guy, a very good guy. The players respect him so much.
“He’s got great energy, he cares for this football club and they’re the type of people you want involved in this club. They’re so important.”
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