Titan of England football hails Sam Kerr as ‘special’, backs an Ange Postecoglou EPL comeback

England football great Jermain Defoe praises Matildas star Sam Kerr as a "special talent" while backing England to stage an epic Ashes cricket comeback.

English football legend Jermain Defoe in Sydney to launch the Sydney Super Cup, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur heading down under to play each other. Image: Supplied

English football legend Jermain Defoe describes Matildas star Sam Kerr as a “special talent” and tips Ange Postecoglou to reignite his career as a top tier manager in Britain.

But the former pocket rocket striker – in Sydney to promote a 2026 tour by Premier League titans Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur – does not extend that love to the high-flying Aussie cricket team.

A giant of the global game, compacted into a 170cm frame, Defoe calls ex-West Indian cricket great Brian Lara a good friend.

With grandparents who hailed from St Lucia in the Caribbean, Defoe wielded willow during his school years in the UK and has kept a keen eye on the current Ashes series.

Gutted that the Poms have been pummelled in the first two Tests, he is also defiant, predicting a comeback of epic proportions with England to win the last three Tests and claim the coveted urn.

English football legend Jermain Defoe in Sydney to launch the Sydney Super Cup, with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur heading down under to play each other. Image: Supplied

“Of course,” he tells The Daily Telegraph. “You have to be optimistic. There’s no point me standing here and being like ‘yeah it’s all done and dusted’.

“Crazy things happen in sport. That’s the beautiful thing about it … you just never know.”

Defoe, 43, is in the top 10 goal scorers of all time in the English Premier League, played 496 games in 19 seasons with three stints at Spurs, and made 57 appearances for England.

Tottenham Hotspur's English striker Jermain Defoe shoots during an EPL match against Chelsea at White Hart Lane in London in 2010. Picture: AFP

On a whistle stop visit to the Harbour City, he said a clash between bitter London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham will be an occasion not to be missed.

The August 1 hit-out at Accor Stadium will be a pre-season fixture, but Defoe warns it should not be seen as a “friendly”.

“It’s a special game, always has been,” he added. “It’s one of those that as a player you feel you have to win.

“When I signed for Tottenham in 2004, coming from West Ham, you don’t realise how big this game is until you’re at the club. It’s massive.”

Jermain Defoe celebrates after scoring the opening goal of England’s World Cup Group C match against Slovenia in 2010 in South Africa.

The match is one of four to be played in the Sydney Super Cup. Western Sydney Wanderers will take on Chelsea, the FIFA Club World Champions, on Tuesday, July 28.

Spurs, the Europa League champions, will meet Sydney FC a day later at Allianz Stadium.

Chelsea and Spurs – whose rivalry kicked off in 1909 – will clash the following Saturday, the first time the two heavyweights have met outside the UK.

The Chelsea women’s team, showcasing Matildas’ stars Kerr and Ellie Carpenter, will round out the fortnight of blockbusters against an A-League All-Stars Women’s side at Allianz on August 12.

Defoe says of Kerr: “Yeah, a top, top player. Someone I’ve watched for a long time and she’s definitely a special talent.”

Sam Kerr in action for Chelsea against Paris FC in a UEFA Women's Champions League match at Stamford Bridge in London in October. Picture: AFP

He also speaks highly of Postecoglou, who led Spurs to silverware before being unceremoniously sacked.

“(Ange) is someone who came and delivered, someone who was honest,” Defoe added. “He came with a big reputation from Celtic.

“It didn’t end how he wanted it to end but in terms of winning a European trophy (he did) – and it had been 41 years.

“We’d had managers come, big names, managers that had won all over the world … and they’d not managed to do it.”

Ange Postecoglou led Tottenham Hotspur to the Europa League title in Bilbao before being sacked by the club. Picture: Getty Images

Defoe still recalls the fan reaction to Spurs’ win in the Europa League final.

“Looking back and seeing North London celebrate like that … men, women, kids, nans and grandads. Just bringing the community together, it was a special time,” he said.

Tickets for the four games go on sale Friday. Tourism and Sports Minister Steve Kamper expects the matches to inject $25 million into the visitor economy.

Originally published as Titan of England football hails Sam Kerr as ‘special’, backs an Ange Postecoglou EPL comeback