Second set of twins a good distraction from injury - Maddison

WHAT HAPPENED
Tottenham midfielder James Maddison told BBC’s new Football Interview programme that life at home with five children aged four and under helped him cope during a long spell out injured. The 29-year-old spent most of the 2025-26 campaign recovering from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament sustained last August; his partner gave birth to a second set of twins while he was sidelined.

Maddison said family duties provided a necessary distraction from rehabilitation, and described the year as the toughest of his life. He also credited incoming head coach Roberto De Zerbi, who arrived in March, with helping restore a more positive atmosphere at the club and deliberately reintegrating Maddison into the group by naming him on the bench on his return to match-day squads.

KEY CONTEXT
- Maddison suffered an ACL rupture in August and missed the bulk of the 2025-26 season; he returned to action in May after being out for 375 days.
- Spurs had a difficult campaign, avoiding relegation on the final day and finishing just two points above the drop zone.
- Roberto De Zerbi took over in March and, according to Maddison, focused initially on getting players to enjoy football again rather than overcomplicating tactics.

WHY IT MATTERS
Maddison’s absence removed a creative option for Tottenham at a time when the side struggled for goals and consistency; he said watching from the sidelines left him thinking about how he might have influenced games. The personal side matters too: prolonged injury kept him away during an important year in his eldest son’s life, and Maddison framed his family’s growing needs as both a challenge and a source of purpose during recovery. De Zerbi’s early steps to rebuild team cohesion — including a relaxed team meal and deliberately keeping Maddison close to the squad — are concrete management choices intended to aid both morale and on-field recovery.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- How regularly Maddison features in match-day squads and whether he regains a starting role as the new season progresses.
- Whether the family-focused distraction translates into sustained mental resilience for Maddison as he returns to competitive football.
- The broader effect of De Zerbi’s methods on Spurs’ performance after a season that narrowly avoided relegation.

KEY FACTS
- Maddison is 29 and missed most of 2025-26 after rupturing his ACL in August.
- He was sidelined for around 375 days and returned against Leeds in May.
- His partner gave birth to their second set of twins during his rehabilitation; the couple now have five children aged four and under.
- Spurs finished the season two points above the relegation zone and secured survival on the final day.
- Roberto De Zerbi became Tottenham head coach in March and initially prioritised restoring enjoyment among players; he also placed Maddison on the bench to keep him involved.