Ex-Tottenham midfielder Ryan Mason started playing football at the Tottenham academy at the age of eight. He slowly grew and showed massive talent – gradually earning his spot with the first team of the Spurs, then lead by Mauricio Pochettino. Ryan showed great performances while representing his native club but eventually left to Hull City in 2016.January 22nd 2017 is most probably still one of the scariest days of Mason’s life. If not the scariest. Hull City played Chelsea as part of the Premier League and in one of the aerial duels, Mason suffered a fractured skull that required surgery after a clash of heads with defender Gary Cahill. In the dugouts for Chelsea that night – Antonio Conte.Sun, 19.30: (1.80) TOTTENHAM (3.70) LEEDS (5.00)Also, while still playing, Mason earned his one and only England cap in 2015. The match saw his England face Italy led by – Antonio Conte.Six years after retiring, Mason took over the Spurs’ first team when Jose Mourinho left ‘White Hart Lane’ back in April this year. Mason was interim manager at Tottenham for the final two months of last season after the Portuguese left the club.Nuno Esprito Santo was appointed and sacked as Spurs manager since the newest campaign started and during that time Mason was the Academy’s Head of Player Development.The latest manager taking over the north London club promoted Ryan to first-team coach, making him one of the backroom staff and that manager is – Antonio Conte.Mason has nothing but praise for the Italian. One of the thing that left the biggest impression on the Englishman is that his new superior at Tottenham Stadium visited him in hospital after Mason suffered his career-ending head injury.“I went to the hospital to see him and his family.”The incredible history between Antonio Conte and Ryan Mason.A story you need to hear. 💙 pic.twitter.com/AUIuvXJz1H— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) November 15, 2021 ‘It was a strange situation. I went to the hospital to find him and his family as it was a serious injury’, the Italian told Tottenham’s official media channels: ‘I followed him last season when he was Spurs coach for two months. Then to arrive to Tottenham and find him – he’s really good guy and I think this could be a good experience for him.’To stick together and help me and my staff to adjust and feel the sense of belonging and feel what it means to play for this club.’Mason also sees how everything developed between the two as peculiar.’It’s pretty strange to be honest. When I had my injury, it was against his team at Stamford Bridge’, the 30-year-old said. ‘He came to the hospital afterwards to see me and my family. I don’t really recall that to be honest because of the nature of my injury, but there’s a photo where he’s with me at my bedside and I think that shows what type of man he is – a very, very classy individual.Ryan Mason and Antonio Conte. #THFC pic.twitter.com/3DGIvpZfUQ— The Spurs Express (@TheSpursExpress) November 12, 2021 ‘Then my only England cap was against his Italian team out in Italy in 2015, so there’s that history there and hopefully we can come together and create some positive history for Tottenham now.”I’m delighted and very excited to join the team under the boss and also the staff that he’s brought along. It’s an exciting chapter for the football club, we’ll be looking to work hard, improve and get some positive results in the short term, but also in the long term as well. ‘I spoke to the boss on the Tuesday after the first training session, we spoke a bit about joining the team and becoming part of the coaching staff and it’s something I’m really excited about. ‘He’s one of the best managers in the world – his record speaks for itself. It’s a massive opportunity for me, and a massive opportunity for the football club to have the boss here coaching and helping the team.’
