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If you thought Tottenham Hotspur’s farewell to Danny Rose on social media was a little underwhelming, you’re not alone. The Spurs social media account made two tweets, one an announcement that he left the club along with Paulo Gazzaniga after their contracts expired on June 1, and another with a few photos thanking him. It wasn’t much, especially for the longest-tenured first team player currently at the club.
As it turns out, it was because the club was planning something a little better, including a farewell interview with Danny.
14 years of loyal service.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) June 4, 2021
Thank you, Danny #THFC ⚪️ #COYS pic.twitter.com/jDuEdnGhdk
That’s better. That’s the kind of Spurs social video that tends to make me a little misty-eyed. And it’s even better, because while Danny was exiled to the U23s this past year under Jose Mourinho, he used the experience to mentor and help develop the youngsters at the club.
And apparently, not only does he not have any regrets about coming to Tottenham from Leeds as a teenager, he really enjoyed working with the kids.
“I was given an opportunity this season to pass some of that knowledge on to the younger lads. They’ve become a part of me and I see them all as my little brothers. I’ve seen how hard they work, the looks on their faces when they say, ‘I’m with the first team today’. It’s been priceless. I’ve witnessed first hand what it means to them.”
That sentiment is echoed by members of Tottenham’s academy, including Elliot Thorpe, who posted a heartfelt farewell to Danny right after the announcement of his departure.
It’s sad that people will never know how much Danny did for all of us young players, the most professional and humble player i’ve ever met & a great guy i could go to for anything! Thank you Danny, you’ll be missed by all of us ❤️ #COYS https://t.co/7H0bbvwiT8
— Elliot Thorpe (@elliotmt) May 27, 2021
For what it’s worth, Rose hasn’t burned his bridges at the club, and while his playing days aren’t yet over — he still wants to play football — the door is still open for him to return to the club after he hangs up his boots as a youth academy coach.
“I just had a meeting with the chairman this morning. He was asking me if I need any help with anything, said I’m welcome to come back in the future. I’m over the moon I did make that choice to come here in 2007 and I look forward to coming back after I’ve finished playing football and hopefully having an impact on the younger age group again, like I’ve had this season.”
Love that man. I wasn’t the first to make this joke, but maybe, if we’re lucky, we may be able to see Tottenham Hotspur Interim Head Coach Danny Rose lead the first team on the pitch after it all goes horribly wrong for some future Spurs manager a few years down the line.
Thanks for everything, Danny.