Tottenham Hotspur fans have paid tribute to midfielder Ryan Mason this evening following his medical retirement from football.
Mason retired from professional football on Tuesday after he fractured his skull following a clash with Chelsea’s Gary Cahill in January 2017.
The one-time England international was playing for Hull City during the match after moving to the Tigers following 17 years at the Tottenham Hotspur youth academy, where he joined the club as an eight-year-old.
Mason made 70 appearances for Spurs in eight seasons at White Hart Lane and the club’s supporters paid tribute to the 26-year-old with a ‘There’s only one Ryan Mason’ chant during their Champions League round of 16 first leg trip away to Juventus.
“One Ryan Mason” #coys # thfc @RyanMason pic.twitter.com/DmWYSxUGSk
— WeAreTottenhamTV (@WeRTottenhamTV) February 13, 2018
Specialists have deemed it unsafe for Mason to continue his career and he announced his retirement on Tuesday morning. Hull released a statement on their website, which reads:
“It is with deep regret that the Club has to announce that, following the head injury suffered on 22nd January 2017, Ryan Mason is to retire from football with immediate effect. Ryan has sought the guidance of numerous world renowned neurologists and neuro surgeons who have all advised that a return to competitive football is not advised. Ryan would like to put on record his thanks to all at the Club who have aided his recovery to this point and he his is indebted to them for their support and compassion over the past 12 months.”
Mason also released a statement of his own on his Instagram page, saying that he worked “tirelessly” to get back on the pitch. He also thanked those who offered him support during a difficult period.
