Five minutes with... Jermain Defoe

Jermain Defoe OBE, 39, is a legendary former Spurs striker, sixth in our all-time goalscoring list with 143 goals in 363 appearances in two spells, 2004-2014, who announced his retirement only last month. He also had spells at West Ham, Bournemouth, Portsmouth, Toronto, Sunderland and Glasgow Rangers, where he won the SPL title in 2020/21. He also scored 20 goals in 57 England caps, 2004-2017.

How are you today?

JD: “I feel great, a million dollars.”

How are you coming to terms with retirement?

JD: “It’s been busy. I’d prepared myself for this moment. If someone said when I was younger, I’d play until I was 39... 39? Wow. I was prepared mentally and so happy with how it went. I’m happy with what I achieved.”

How did it feel to suddenly be out of the footballing environment?

JD: “I watch every game on the TV. I can sit down now and enjoy it. All those games, there is so much pressure to perform day in, day out, game after game, season after season, so much pressure. Even when you’ve played well... Sonny, for example, scored a hat-trick at Villa, but then the next game comes around and he has to perform at that level again, the expectation, so you can never get too high, too carried away, it's always onto the next one. Now, I can watch football at home, sit back and relax!”

How are you finding the punditry on TV?

JD: “I like it. I enjoy it because I’m talking about football. I’ve done that my whole life, sitting in rooms, talking about football, games, players, tactics. The only difference is that now I’m sitting in a studio in front of cameras.”

What is your favourite Spurs goal?

JD: “My fifth goal in the 9-1 win against Wigan (November, 2009). That was history, in front of my family at White Hart Lane. I was the first player to score five goals in one half. At the time, I knew only Alan Shearer and Andy Cole had done it. At the Lane as well, it was so special.”

Did you ever cry at a Spurs match?

JD: “Yes, at that Wigan game. I was so emotional. I was welling up when I scored the fifth, I was so happy. When you are at a Club you love and you do something like that in front of your home fans, in front of your family... I was a bit overwhelmed. The big thing for a striker in a game is to score a hat-trick and get the matchball. But to score five, that’s something I dreamed about when I was a kid.”

What do Spurs mean to you?

JD: “Everything. When I was younger, Leon Knight’s dad took myself and Leon training at the indoor pitch at White Hart Lane. I was a kid. I said to Leon, ‘I want to see the pitch’. We managed to get into the stadium, I had to see the pitch. You can imagine it, as a kid. Then years later, I got the chance to play for Spurs. You can imagine how that felt. When I had the chance to sign for Spurs, I just said to my agent, ‘I don’t care about the money, I just want to sign’. Then the reception when I signed. I hadn’t kicked a ball! This Club. Everywhere I go in the world, it’s Tottenham. Fans coming up to me, talking about Spurs. That’s it.”

So, what is a typical Sunday now in the life of retired Jermain Defoe?

JD: “Me, my fiancée, my stepdaughter, I’m always up early anyway, breakfast, still healthy, then chill out for a while, maybe go out for a jog, go out for a walk, relax. Then I’ll watch the football, have Sunday dinner, that’s about it. A nice, chilled Sunday without having to worry about going in for training on Monday morning!”

We spoke to Jermain on Sunday 10 April…