What happened to Ryan Mason? Tottenham’s assistant manager was forced to retire aged 26 after horrific clash of heads with Gary Cahill

Ryan Mason will step up to be assistant manager to Cristian Stellini at Tottenham after Antonio Conte parted ways with the club. 

Spurs announced Conte’s departure on Sunday, along with the news that Stellini and Mason will be taking over until the end of the season. 

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Mason will be assistant to Stellini until the end of the season

Mason previously stepped in as interim manager in 2021, taking charge of seven games after Jose Mourinho’s sacking, winning four and losing three.

The former player will use that experience to see out the campaign with Stellini this time around as he steps back into the limelight. 

And seeing Mason on the touchline may bring back some memories for fans who remember his playing career being cut short.

What happened to Ryan Mason? 

Mason was forced to retire at the age of 26 after a clash of heads during Hull City’s game against Chelsea in 2017. 

While challenging for a header, he made a sickening connection with defender Gary Cahill which left him flattened on the pitch. 

The former midfielder received treatment for a total of eight minutes before he was stretchered off the pitch wearing an oxygen mask and taken straight to hospital. 

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Mason sickeningly clashed heads with Cahill

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It was quickly discovered that he had fractured his skull and he then spent eight days in hospital.

He was forced to have 14 metal plates held together by 28 screws and 45 staples to help repair his horrific injury. 

Reliving the event that ended his career, Mason told talkSPORT in 2017: “I felt like I was there on my own and I’ve jumped to head the ball and get some decent impact on it and then the impact came. 

“I remember straight away that I knew that it was quite a serious injury because straight away it felt like my skull was bleeding and pouring out with blood.

“But I remember touching it and there was nothing there so, I did have a bit of panic then.

“I didn’t want anyone around me, my head, it felt like something had gone off in there because there was so much pressure and it was so painful.

“The Hull doctor knew straight away that I had fractured my skull because the right side of my face was completely paralysed so I couldn’t move anything, so he knew instantly.” 

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Mason was forced to retire over a year after the injury occurred

Despite his experience and long recovery, Mason still wanted to return to playing football but over a year after the incident, he was forced to retire. 

In a statement, he said: “I can confirm that following specialist medical advice I am having to retire from professional football. 

“I have worked tirelessly in order to be able to return to the pitch. Unfortunately, having taken expert medical advice, I now have no option but to retire due to the risks involved given the nature of my injury.

“I love the game, I always will and I am excited to see where football will take me next.”

And he managed to continue his career in football, being hired as a coach at Tottenham by Antonio Conte who was managing Chelsea on the day he was injured. 

In fact, Conte visited him and his family while he was in hospital in what was a classy gesture from the Italian. 

Now after Conte has left Tottenham, Mason, alongside Stellini, will take charge for the remainder of the season as they look to secure a place in the Champions League. 

Showdown Saturday on talkSPORT

On Saturday 1 April, it’s all kicking off on talkSPORT.

12:30pm: Starting the day, Man City host Liverpool in a key Premier League game.

3pm: Crystal Palace vs Leicester sees the return of Roy Hodgson to the Selhurst Park dugout.

7pm: Build-up begins for the heavyweight showdown between Anthony Joshua and Jermaine Franklin as AJ starts his route back to the top.

What. A. Day.

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