‘He’s a very classy individual’: Ryan Mason reveals Tottenham manager Antonio Conte visited him in hospital after he suffered his career-ending head injury against the Italian’s Chelsea side
- Ryan Mason fractured his skull when Hull City played Chelsea back in 2017
- Antonio Conte, then Chelsea manager, visited Mason in hospital after the game
- The Italian now works with Mason after taking up the job at Tottenham
Tottenham boss Antonio Conte visited Ryan Mason when he was manager of Chelsea after the midfielder suffered a career-ending head injury.
Mason sustained a fractured skull while he was playing for Hull City at Conte’s Chelsea back in 2017.
Conte was appointed at Tottenham earlier this month and promoted Mason to first-team coach.
Antonio Conte visited Ryan Mason in hospital after the midfielder’s career-ending head injury
Now four years later, Mason works alongside Conte since the Italian’s appointment at Spurs
The Italian told Tottenham’s official media channels: ‘It was a strange situation. I went to the hospital to find him and his family as it was a serious injury.
‘I followed him last season when he was Spurs coach for two months. Then to arrive to Tottenham and find him – he’s really good guy and I think this could be a good experience for him.
‘To stick together and help me and my staff to adjust and feel the sense of belonging and feel what it means to play for this club.’
Mason has history going back even further with the new Spurs boss as he got his one and only England cap in 2015 playing against Conte’s Italy.
The 30-year-old said: ‘It’s pretty strange to be honest. When I had my injury, it was against his team at Stamford Bridge.
‘He came to the hospital afterwards to see me and my family. I don’t really recall that to be honest because of the nature of my injury, but there’s a photo where he’s with me at my bedside and I think that shows what type of man he is – a very, very classy individual.
‘Then my only England cap was against his Italian team out in Italy in 2015, so there’s that history there and hopefully we can come together and create some positive history for Tottenham now.’
He added: ‘I’m delighted and very excited to join the team under the boss and also the staff that he’s brought along. It’s an exciting chapter for the football club, we’ll be looking to work hard, improve and get some positive results in the short term, but also in the long term as well.
Mason made his one and only England appearance against Conte’s Italy back in 2015
Conte promoted Mason, who was interim manager last season, to the role of first-team coach
‘I spoke to the boss on the Tuesday after the first training session, we spoke a bit about joining the team and becoming part of the coaching staff and it’s something I’m really excited about.
‘He’s one of the best managers in the world – his record speaks for itself. It’s a massive opportunity for me, and a massive opportunity for the football club to have the boss here coaching and helping the team.’
Mason was interim manager at Tottenham for the final two months of last season after Jose Mourinho’s departure from the club.
Before his promotion to first-team coach, he was the Academy’s Head of Player Development.