Woking has appointed Jermain Defoe as their new manager, replacing Neal Ardley. Defoe's appointment comes four weeks after Ardley's sacking.

What happened?

Jermain Defoe, the former England star, has been appointed as the new manager of Woking. He replaces Neal Ardley, who was sacked after 15 months in charge. Defoe said: "Woking is a historic club with huge potential, and I’m thrilled to be part of this exciting project."

Why it matters for Woking

Defoe's appointment is a significant move for Woking, who are currently sitting 10th in the England National League with 63 points from 46 games, having won 16, drawn 15, and lost 15, with a recent form of LWDWD. Their last result was a 0-1 loss to FC Halifax Town on 2026-04-25. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | League Standing | 10th | | Points | 63 | | Recent Form | LWDWD |

What comes next?

Defoe's first game in charge will be at home to Eastleigh on Good Friday. His assistant will be former Everton, Stoke City, Sunderland, and Newcastle United midfielder Paul Bracewell. Defoe has previously coached in Tottenham's academy and was also a player-coach during his time at Rangers under Steven Gerrard. Woking Chairman Todd Johnson said: “Jermain’s achievements as a player speak for themselves, but what stood out to us during the process was how he sees the game, how he drives standards, and his approach to leadership and player development.”