Spurs lose highly rated youth boss Dean Rastrick and must alter academy as Ange Postecoglou joins

Tottenham lose highly rated academy manager Dean Rastrick and are forced into academy restructure just as Ange Postecoglou joins from Celtic

By Simon Jones for MailOnline

18:44 13 Jun 2023, updated 18:44 13 Jun 2023

Tottenham’s academy manager Dean Rastrick has left the club after 13 years
He has been in his current post since 2020 and exits just as a new boss arrives
Spurs are restructuring academy after losing head of emerging talent in January

Tottenham have been dealt a blow after highly regarded academy manager Dean Rastrick decided to leave the club.

Rastrick has been at the club since 2010 and ran the academy since 2020 when John McDermott left for the Football Association.

Last season, Tottenham won the Premier League Cups at Under 18 and Under 17 level and chairman Daniel Levy pointedly referred to the importance of the club’s youngsters on the appointment of new manager Ange Postecoglou last week.

But Rastrick’s departure will force Tottenham into an academy restructure.

Rastrick, who had previously worked at Derby County, Norwich City and Luton Town, has been linked with a role at the FA in recent months.

Dean Rastrick is leaving after 13 years at Spurs, three of which he spent as academy manager

Rastrick worked with Ryan Mason, who was appointed head of player development in 2020

Ange Postecoglou arrives at Spurs after a successful couple of seasons at Celtic

He said: ‘I’ve had an amazing 13 years at the Club and feel privileged for the responsibility and support I have been given throughout my tenure – I am immensely proud of what we have achieved.

‘At this stage in my career, I feel it is the right time for me to move on and I will always look back at my time at Tottenham Hotspur with great pride and affection.

‘It has been an honour to serve this amazing club and I would like to thank Daniel, the board, current and previous staff and coaches, Club partners, young players and their families for all their support throughout the years and wish the Spurs team every success on their journeys.’

Tottenham, who lost head of emerging talent Chris Perkins to Arsenal in January, will now have to restructure their academy and recruitment departments ahead of a busy summer.

One youngster they did want, 16-year old West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jamaldeen Jimoh, is joining Aston Villa instead.

Villa have agreed a deal worth £1m plus a ten percent sell-on for the England U17 international.