Ryan Mason is kicking off his managerial career at The Hawthorns having been appointed the club’s new head coach on a three-year-deal.

The 33-year-old steps into the position having previously played as a midfielder for a number of top teams, and England’s national side, before a serious injury cut short his career on the pitch.

Off it, he’s climbed the coaching ladder and worked under some of the game’s most high-profile managers at former club Tottenham Hotspur, while also taking charge on an interim basis on two separate occasions. He now joins West Bromwich Albion before the 2025/26 Sky Bet Championship campaign.

Born in London, Mason signed for Spurs’ academy at the age of eight. He progressed through the system and penned his first professional contract in the summer of 2008. His senior debut would follow soon after, coming on as a substitute in a 1-0 win at NEC Nijmegen in the UEFA Cup in November of the same year.

Loan spells with Yeovil Town, Doncaster Rovers, Millwall, Lorient in France and Swindon Town followed over the next few years before Ryan became a regular in the Spurs XI during the 2014/15 campaign.

His performances at club level led to international recognition. On March 31, 2015, Mason stepped off the bench to proudly make his Three Lions debut in a 1-1 draw against Italy in a friendly in Turin. It was certainly a memorable night for Albion’s new boss. Not only did he represent his country, but he also claimed the assist as Andros Townsend crashed home an equaliser.

He clocked up 70 appearances in total for Tottenham, but left to join Hull City in August 2016. During a match with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in January 2017, Ryan suffered a significant head injury – one which would cruelly end his playing days.

Following the official news around an early retirement, his next steps were clear - work on his coaching badges while learning in a professional environment.

Mason’s mentor John McDermott, now Technical Director at The FA, handed him an opportunity to return to his footballing roots, re-joining the North London club as an academy coach in April 2018 to make early inroads on his management journey. Mauricio Pochettino, who Ryan also cites as having an influence on his style, was senior boss at the time.

It wasn’t long until Mason’s first lead role in Spurs’ youth system came about - taking charge of the Under-19s for their UEFA Youth League competition in 2019, which saw them face European sides Bayern Munich, Olympiacos and Red Star Belgrade.

Tottenham’s development players certainly benefitted from senior exposure under serial winner and one of the world’s most decorated managers in José Mourinho, who was appointed midway through the 2019/20 campaign.

But it was when the Portuguese boss parted ways with the club in April 2021, that a chance presented itself for the former England midfielder to experience his first lead role in senior football.

Taking interim charge of the first team, at the club he’d been at since the age of eight, Ryan became the youngest coach in Premier League history at 29-years-old - guiding Spurs to a 2-1 win over Southampton. They would go on to record victory in six out of eight top flight games in total.

Despite tournament anguish in the League Cup Final against Manchester City, Mason enjoyed some priceless league experiences in addition to leading Spurs out at Wembley.

His temporary stewardship of the Lilywhites ultimately came to a successful end. Spurs finished the 2020/21 season in seventh position and qualified for the following campaign’s Europa Conference League.

Although Ryan returned to Tottenham’s academy setup as Head of Player Development, it wouldn’t be long until he was back around the senior fold.

Who better to hand Mason his maiden full-time role within the first-team management group than five-time Serie A winner and 2016/17 Premier League champion, Antonio Conte.

His arrival in November 2021 meant Mason was named first-team coach by the former Italy manager, allowing him to attain invaluable knowledge during Conte’s reign - with the pair working closely before Antonio departed in March 2023.

Mason took charge of six more games later that season. In that time, Spurs drew at Old Trafford and recorded wins over Crystal Palace and Leeds United.

Ange Postecoglou swapped Celtic for Tottenham in the summer of 2023 and Ryan was appointed his No.2. The two enjoyed a successful relationship which resulted in a triumphant end - winning the UEFA Europa League against Manchester United to cap off the 2024/25 term.

The trophy ended Spurs’ 17-year wait for silverware, and sends Mason into his first job hungry for more.