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Jermain Defoe Set to Join Bromley as Assistant Manager After Four Months Away

Jermain Defoe, once a Premier League star with 163 goals, is preparing to return to football coaching. He will become the assistant manager to Karl Robinson at Bromley, who sit at the bottom of League One. This comes four months after Defoe left his managerial role at National League club Woking in a sudden exit.

New Coaching Role Following Departure from Woking

Reports from talkSPORT reveal that Defoe will be second-in-command once Robinson's appointment is confirmed. Robinson is set to replace Andy Woodman, who was dismissed on October 22. Defoe ranks 10th on the Premier League’s all-time scoring list, having scored 163 goals in 496 appearances for six clubs. He remains Tottenham Hotspur’s seventh-highest scorer. The duo faces the challenge of lifting Bromley from last place in the third tier.

Defoe’s Recent Turbulent Period

Defoe’s time at Woking lasted less than four months before he clashed with the club’s director of football. He missed pre-season training and officially stepped down in July. Robinson, who was recently sacked by Salford City after losing the League Two play-off final, previously tried to bring Defoe to Oxford United following his departure from Rangers in 2022.

Woodman Reflects on His Sudden Exit

After Woodman’s sacking, Bromley considered other candidates like ex-Cesena boss Ashley Cole and Matt Bloomfield. Woodman had led Bromley to their first Football League status in 132 years and helped them reach League One. Speaking on the Inside the 72 podcast, Woodman said:

"When I got the job at Bromley, my first game was Wealdstone and my last game in the league was Leicester. I was pretty disappointed and pretty upset. It felt like I’d been misled, in numerous ways."
"To give five-and-a-half years of your life to a club and a fanbase that I really loved and bought into, where I gave everything I had, to then be told in no more than three or four minutes thanks. That was it really."
"There’s no other way of dressing it up. That’s the truth. I’m disappointed, but that’s football as we know it guys. Unfortunately it never, ever surprises us."

Immediate Challenge: Avoiding Relegation

Bromley currently sits three points from safety, with only two wins in 10 league games. Robinson and Defoe must halt a six-match winless streak to steer the team clear of relegation in their first season at this level. Both coaches will look to restore their reputations while stabilizing the club’s future.

About the Reporter

Adhe has worked with ESPN Star Sports, Fox Sports, and FIFA. A lifelong Manchester United fan, he covers Premier League and European football for GOAL. One memorable moment for him was covering the Indonesia vs. Netherlands match at GBK in 2013 and meeting Radja Nainggolan at Sultan Agung Stadium. His expertise spans Indonesian and European football analysis, including Premier League coverage.

Adhe’s All-Time XI (4-1-2-3)

  • Goalkeeper: Edwin van der Sar
  • Defenders: Dani Alves, Paolo Maldini, Nemanja Vidic, Roberto Carlos
  • Defensive Midfielder: Roy Keane
  • Central Midfielders: Xavi, Paul Scholes
  • Forwards: Lionel Messi, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Cristiano Ronaldo

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