Ryan Mason, 34, is the latest to make a fruitful move from player to the management side. He is now head coach of West Bromwich Albion in the Championship. Once regarded as a wonderkid at Tottenham Hotspur, the impact of several managers has been felt along Mason’s chaotic road. He’s overcome personal challenges that have in many ways defined his remarkable career.
Mason’s footballing journey began in earnest when he broke into Tottenham’s first team as a young player. His on-pitch leadership reached a zenith with being named club captain. That abruptly changed in January of 2017. He endured a fractured skull after a collision with the goalline while playing for Hull City in a Premier League match against Chelsea. That untimely injury forced him into retirement when he was only 26 years old. What it did do was open up really dynamic new doors to his football career.
At only 29, Mason had fully committed to the world of coaching. He took the opportunity to learn under the great managers that are Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Nuno Espírito Santo, and Ange Postecoglou. His time under Conte was particularly impactful.
“Preparation. Detail. The way he lives his life. It’s engrossed in winning and can become contagious. He was amazing.” – Ryan Mason
Mason served as part of Conte’s coaching staff at Tottenham, an experience he describes as “great” and one that “accelerated [his] desire to be in this position now.” Getting a small taste of management only stoked his desire to go manage a team of his own.
In his short time at Tottenham, Mason acquired the dubious distinction of holding two interim manager roles. In fact, he found himself in charge for the first time just a week after Jose Mourinho’s sacking in April 2021. In this brief period, he led the team to the Carabao Cup final, where they faced Manchester City but lost 1-0. Even with the disappointment, Mason looked back on the experience fondly.
“To have that opportunity was great and it accelerated my desire to be in this position now. When you have a taste of it, it gives you a feeling of wanting more. It was something I’m grateful for.” – Ryan Mason
With Mason getting into coaching, that solidified and sharpened his knowledge of the game. He emphasized that working with diverse coaches helped him discover his own beliefs and attributes in football.
“The coaches you work with make you understand who you are and bring out your attributes and cement your beliefs in the game. Many different coaches have different beliefs, but when you have a variety of exposures and experiences, that can only benefit you.” – Ryan Mason
After three and a half to four years in coaching, Mason felt ready to take on a managerial role independently. As recently as last year, he talked to Ange Postecoglou, who told him that being a manager has to be right for you. Armed with that advice, Mason figured it was high time to make his own break.
“In the last 12 months I had the desire [to go out on my own] and it felt like the time was right. I spoke to Ange and he advised me it needs to feel right, and when it does, go for it.” – Ryan Mason
Now at West Brom, Mason is bringing the fear-inducing, chaos-causing long ball style. He’ll be looking to have the same success he did at Tottenham while developing positive relationships with his players and supporters.
“Against Leicester we’re going to try to be aggressive, take the game to them like we did in all our home games,” – Ryan Mason
He was optimistic at his team’s prospects of generating buzz during the season and passing that excitement on to their loyal fans. His priority should still be on creating a united squad that’s going to get them the best results possible when they step foot on the pitch.
“We want to impose ourselves early, under the lights in front of our fans. We know they’ll bring energy, and it’s down to us to transmit that energy to them and hopefully get a positive result.” – Ryan Mason
Mason’s meteoric ascent to the pinnacle of football coaching was only made possible by his tremendous perseverance. It further exemplifies his passion for developing as a manager. Friends of Mason Michael Dawson sought to spotlight Mason’s strong record. He was the youngest manager ever to take charge of a Premier League match at the age of just 29, albeit on an interim basis.
“You were the youngest manager to ever manage in the Premier League at the age of 29 on an interim basis,” – Michael Dawson
As he embarks on this new chapter with West Brom, Mason can look back on his soccer journey with pride.
“Probably only when I sit on a beach and think about it do I realise it’s a pretty cool thing to have done. At this stage of my career, it’s about trying to grow.” – Ryan Mason
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