Tottenham Hotspur assistant manager Ryan Mason is in talks to become the new manager of Belgian giants Anderlecht, according to a report.
The 33-year-old has been part of Ange Postecoglou's backroom staff for just over a year, prior to which he enjoyed two separate stints as caretaker head coach following the exits of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
Mason firstly took over as caretaker manager for the closing stages of the 2020-21 season, becoming the youngest-ever Premier League boss temporary or permanent at 29 years old, overseeing four wins and a 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the final of the EFL Cup.
Mason subsequently became a technical coach for Conte when the Italian joined the club in 2021, before stepping into the hotseat once again for the end of the 2022-23 season after Conte and Cristian Stellini both departed.
Three of the 33-year-old's six games in charge that year ended in defeat, but Postecoglou was keen to keep him on the books, and his contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium does not run out until 2027.
Mason could reunite with ex-Spurs colleague at Anderlecht
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However, The Athletic claims that Mason is now discussing a move to Belgian giants Anderlecht, who are on the lookout for a new head coach after sacking Brian Riemer in the middle of September.
David Hubert has taken charge of Anderlecht's last five matches, but the Jupiler Pro League side are searching for a permanent successor, and Mason is among the top candidates.
Should the Spurs assistant take the reins in Belgium, he would reunite with a former Tottenham teammate in Jan Vertonghen, who is still going strong at 37 and wears the captain's armband for Anderlecht.
Leander Dendoncker and Thorgan Hazard are also on the books with the 34-time Belgian champions, who currently sit fourth in the league table and fifth in the Europa League league phase standings, two places behind Tottenham.
Mason scored four goals in 70 appearances for Tottenham as a player, before being forced into early retirement in 2018 after a sickening skull fracture while playing for Hull City.
Postecoglou to lose second coach in a matter of months?
© Imago
Mason's possible departure would represent a second coaching exit for Tottenham in as many months, as the club saw Chris Davies leave to take up the role of Birmingham City manager this summer.
Welshman Davies has overseen a brilliant start to life in the Second City, as Birmingham sit at the top of the League One table with 22 points from their opening nine games, winning seven of them.
If the weekend's catastrophic collapse against Brighton & Hove Albion is anything to go by, Spurs desperately need stability at this point in the season, but they are unlikely to stand in Mason's way of taking up an intriguing head coach opportunity.
Mason forms part of Postecoglou's five-strong coaching team alongside senior assistant Matt Wells, Nick Montgomery, Sergio Raimundo and former Crystal Palace and Aston Villa midfielder Mile Jedinak.
Ben Knapton
