Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham assistant Ryan Mason emerges as contender for Anderlecht job

Former midfielder could be second coach to leave Spurs’ backroom staff in fewer than six months

Ange Postecoglou could lose a second key member of his backroom staff at Tottenham Hotspur in fewer than six months after it emerged Ryan Mason is a leading contender to become the new manager of Anderlecht.
Mason has been an assistant to Postecoglou since the Australian’s appointment, having twice been interim manager of Spurs following the departures of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
But Mason is now in contention to land his first permanent job as a head coach at Anderlecht, the Belgian club with which Vincent Kompany started his senior coaching career.
That would result in Tottenham head coach Postecoglou losing a second important member of his staff in fewer than six months after Chris Davies left Spurs in the summer to become head coach of Birmingham City.
The departure of Davies coincided with Postecoglou appointing two new coaches, Nick Montgomery and Sergio Raimundo, and it is unclear whether or not Mason would need to be replaced if he leaves.
Mason has made no secret of his desire to become a head coach and had previously stated his case for the permanent Tottenham job before the appointment of Postecoglou.
The 33-year-old, who made 70 appearances for Spurs before his playing career was cut short by a fractured skull sustained while he was at Hull City, would become one of the youngest head coaches in Europe if he takes over at Anderlecht.
Anderlecht sacked head coach Brian Riemer last month, following a poor start to the season and the club are currently lying fourth in the league table, five points behind Genk.
Tottenham have made an underwhelming start to the Premier League season, picking up 10 points from their first seven matches and surrendering a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at Brighton at the weekend. They have, however, started their Europa League campaign with two victories and progressed in the Carabao Cup.