On the day that Ryan Mason announced his retirement from football, Mauricio Pochettino said that Spurs is an option if the 26-year-old wishes to return to the game in a coaching capacity.
"Of course the door is open to help him; myself, the coaching staff and the club, because we love him and all his family," the Spurs manager is quoted as saying by Sky Sports following last night's 2-2 draw with Juventus.
"In the last few days he was at the training ground. He was talking a lot with us, the coaching staff and (academy boss) John McDermott.
"Don't worry Ryan because you are going to be a successful person in football outside of the pitch, no doubt about that."
Following medical advice, Mason hung up his boots due to a head injury sustained nearly 13 months ago while playing for Hull during a game against Chelsea.
Mason joined Hull from Spurs in August 2016 for £13 million. He made 66 appearances during his time at Spurs. More than that, he also made an impression on Pochettino.
When the Argentine first arrived at the club, Mason was going through a period of injury and loan stints at Football League clubs.
"It was difficult for him in the beginning because he struggled to cope with the training sessions, because it was very tough.
"But then we travelled to the USA and I met him in the airport and, during 30 minutes, we shared, and I said after to Jesus 'wow, I love Ryan'. I didn't know if he played well or not but I loved him like a man."
Pochettino saying that the door will always be open for Mason at Spurs is not an act of charity. He believes that Mason has "an amazing football brain".
Then, in the first game we played against Seattle, he understood everything. After only a few tactical training sessions he was quick and he understood everything - the movement and the timing and the concept - that maybe for another player it takes a whole season, and I said 'we have in front of us a very good player'.
Always he is and will be a special player for me because he represent a little bit this change in all the processes when we arrived at Tottenham.
"Sure he was a very successful player, and sure he will be a very successful person in football, and everything that he is going to do. It is very sad news but it opens up a massive future (for him). He is 26 but he is an amazing person and has an amazing football brain.
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