My Sporting Life is The i Paper’s look behind the curtain at what drives sports stars to greatness. This week, we speak to Jermain Defoe, one of English football’s most prolific strikers, about feeling invincible at Tottenham Hotspur, how Simply Red connects him to his departed loved ones, and the move to Juventus that never was.
It’s so hard to say when I was happiest
I made my debut at West Ham when I was 17, and I finished at 39. I played nearly 800 games.
There were so many periods I thought I was playing my best football and years later you think “hmm, I enjoyed this other period a lot more”.
My favourite season
The 2009-10 season at Tottenham. We qualified for the Champions League that year, and I went to the World Cup. I was playing some of the best football of my career, in terms of goals and how I felt physically. I scored five goals against Wigan Athletic.
As players and athletes, you know when you’re in the zone, when you feel invincible, like it doesn’t matter who you play against, you always fancy yourself and back yourself. I was in that mode.
Making my debut a year out of school, at 17, was a massive achievement
I was only a kid. The League Cup with Tottenham was also a big achievement. We should have won a lot more. At Rangers, winning the league title, arguably the biggest league title in such a big club’s history. But I think playing for England was the biggest of all. Because when the World Cup is on, the world is at a standstill.
Ian Wright was my sporting idol
The goals that he scored, him being a centre-forward, his movement – just everything about him, really, the celebrations – I felt like I could relate to Wrighty, even though he’s south London, I’m east London.
That West Indian background, how tough it was to come from humble beginnings and become something with hard work.
I cry when I listen to Simply Red
When I listen to certain music, it reminds me of my nan or my dad. My mum had me at 18 when she was still at home with her parents, my nan and granddad, so it was like it was like I had two mums, and I was really close to my dad.
So sometimes if I listen to certain music, I feel myself getting emotional just thinking about all the good memories that I have with my nanny. Simply Red – “Holding back the Years.” That tune. It’s such a good tune. Growing up, West Indian culture, music was such a big part of my life. Proper music. That song – I’ve always loved it.
It’s nice when you have those moments. With my nan, when I have moments like that, it’s comforting, because I feel like I still can feel her presence. I’ve got my nan tattooed on my arm. I love those moments where she can just come into my head, when songs come into my head, it’s nice.
Grief has helped shape me in a positive way
It’s well documented, the stuff that I’ve been through, with my nan, my brother, my dad, my cousin, obviously Bradley Lowery, of course.
Sometimes in life I just believe that things happen for a reason, it does make you stronger, it actually makes you appreciate life more. It makes you appreciate people around you.
The people around you that you love, it’s important to actually show them that you love them with your actions and the things you say, and how you carry yourself, not just family members.
I could have signed for Juventus
I got a call from an agent in, I think it was 2008, when I went back to Tottenham about Juventus. But because I already told Harry Redknapp and Daniel Levy I was going back to Tottenham, I was just waiting for the deal to get done.
I think it was just principle, really. If you shake hands with someone, say, “Okay, then I’m coming back to Tottenham”, then you should.
I know players do it, but to change my mind at the last minute and say “OK, I’m going to Juventus,” I just don’t think I could have done it at the time.
Read more
- Gareth Bale: I wish I’d enjoyed the big moments a bit more
- Sir Geoff Hurst: The one thing I would change if I could do it all again
I don’t regret anything about my career
My life could have been a lot different. Of course, there’s moments I’d change, like for example that first half against Germany at the World Cup, where Frank Lampard scored, and if there was VAR – but really, I wouldn’t change anything.
Growing up in the East End, when I was at school, if someone would have said to me I would go on and do what I have done, I’ve been like, “wow, really?”
What football has done for me and my family, I think you just have to be grateful.
This summer E.ON Next is encouraging people to get their washing done when they’re up watching football at night, to take advantage of cheaper off-peak electricity prices. The “Watch and Wash” campaign launches as it’s revealed the nation could save £93m collectively if they washed and watched this summer with the Next Smart Saver tariff.
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