After Tottenham Hotspur won the Europa League last season under Ange Postecoglou, Ryan Mason reflected on his time working with Antonio Conte and gave an explanation of his decision to leave the team.
This summer, the 34-year-old left Spurs to take on his first full-time managerial position at West Bromwich Albion. For Mason, who played for Spurs for eight years before rejoining the team in 2018 to start his coaching career, it was a big step. During that time, he was employed by Conte, Postecoglou, and Jose Mourinho. In 2021 and 2023, he also filled in as interim head coach twice.
Mason was highly respected within the Spurs camp and was part of Postecoglou’s coaching staff that helped guide the club to Europa League glory last season. He celebrated the 1-0 victory over Manchester United in Bilbao as passionately as anyone, but deep down, he knew the time had come to pursue his own path.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Mason explained:
“We created history together and we’ll be bonded forever because when you win with someone, that connection is never broken. 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. The way the season ended in Bilbao with Spurs was amazing. When I understood West Brom were interested, it felt right. It’s a massive club with great history and impressive people. I felt a real alignment and connection straight away.”
Mason has settled quickly into life at The Hawthorns. His West Brom side have made a strong start in the Championship, winning four and drawing two of their opening eight matches, leaving them in fourth place and just four points behind leaders Middlesbrough.
Asked to reflect on his time with Antonio Conte, Mason was full of admiration for the Italian. “It was just everything with him,” he said. “Preparation. Detail. The way he lives his life. It’s engrossed in winning and can become contagious. He was amazing.”
For Mason, the lessons learned under some of the game’s most demanding managers now serve as the foundation for his own journey in the dugout.
