Defoe departs Woking managerial role after 116 days
Jermain Defoe leaves National League club two weeks before season opener, with club hierarchy citing operational circumstances.
Former England striker Jermain Defoe has departed his position as manager of National League club Woking after 116 days in charge. The club and Defoe mutually agreed to part ways with immediate effect, a decision confirmed on Thursday just two weeks before the start of the new campaign.
Defoe, who was appointed in March as the replacement for Neal Ardley, guided the team to a 10th-place finish in the previous season. During his tenure, he won two of the six league matches he managed. His final game in charge was a 1-0 pre-season defeat to Braintree Town on Tuesday.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Defoe described his first managerial role as an "eye-opening experience" and stated that specific circumstances had made it "impossible" for him to continue. He expressed pride in the work undertaken and thanked owner Todd Johnson for the opportunity, while noting he felt the club was building something special.
The abrupt end to the partnership comes despite enthusiasm from fans and squad members who joined the club during the summer under Defoe and Director of Football Jody Brown. Defoe’s departure leaves Woking in a precarious position ahead of their opening fixture against Sutton United, with the club now requiring a new head coach.
Defoe, 43, scored 305 goals in 763 senior appearances during a playing career that included spells at West Ham, Tottenham, Portsmouth, and Sunderland. He retired in 2022 after earning 20 caps for England, including appearances at the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship. Prior to his full-time pursuit of management in 2024, he served on an interim coaching staff at Rangers and worked in the Tottenham Hotspur academy.
