David Pleat has returned home to continue his recovery after spending two weeks in hospital following a worrying fall.
Daily Mail Sport understands the former Spurs boss was permitted to return home from hospital on Thursday after receiving a fortnight of medical care following his fall during Queens Park Rangers’ clash with Wrexham at Loftus Road on January 24.
Pleat, who managed Spurs in 1986–87 before later undertaking three separate spells as interim head coach during the 2000s, celebrated his 81st birthday on January 15, nine days before suffering his heavy fall.
The Spurs legend has been involved in football for over six decades after first making his debut for Nottingham Forest in 1962.
It was exclusively reported by Daily Mail Sport last year that Pleat had returned to football at the age of 80 to take up a scouting role with Celtic, in a contract lasting 12 months.
Whether as a manager, scout or director of football, the role he first carried out under ex-Spurs owner Alan Sugar in 1998, Pleat has established himself as one of the game’s most likeable and knowledgeable figures during his time in football.
David Pleat has returned home from hospital to continue his recovery after a heavy fall
The 81-year-old (pictured left in 2018) managed Spurs in 1986–87 and also had three separate spells as interim head coach during the 2000s – before later becoming a consultant scout
After reports of his stay in hospital circulated online, several people took to social media on Thursday to send well-wishes and offer their support.
Claude Littner, ex-Tottenham chief executive and Lord Sugar’s former right-hand man on The Apprentice, described him as a ‘super human being’ in a supportive post.
He wrote on X: ‘David Pleat is a good friend, super human being with an encyclopedic knowledge of players and football matters. I join all Spurs fans in wishing David a speedy and full recovery.’
Another X user added: ‘David Pleat is an iconic legend of the game. All of football wish him a speedy recovery bless him, I’ll never forget that run across the Luton pitch in his John Motson coat!!’
Pleat’s return home from hospital comes on the same day Tottenham sacked Thomas Frank following a dismal run of results in the Premier League.
Spurs sit 16th in the division in the wake of Tuesday’s 2-1 defeat by Newcastle, failing to improve under Frank after parting ways with Ange Postecoglou last summer.
Last season, former Daily Mail Sport columnist Pleat criticised Tottenham’s decision to cast aside his years of scouting experience in an interview with the newspaper, having been a consultant scout at Spurs for 14 years.
‘I was called in and informed: “It’s all data driven now we don’t need eyes and ears”. What nonsense. Data is all well and good when it enhances eyes and ears, not replaces them. I didn’t argue.
Pleat pictured in 2004 during his time in charge at the club, when Tottenham faced Wolves
Tottenham
V
Arsenal
*18+, excludes NI. Terms and conditions apply
Former Spurs chief executive Claude Littner was among those to send their well wishes on X
‘Two or three people have spoken to me about things. We’ll see. But I’m not finished. How can I step away? When it comes to football, I’m afraid I’m a total obsessive.’
Pleat, who is credited with the signings of Dele Alli, Jan Vertonghen and Ben Davies in recent times, was relieved of his duties at the end of the 2024-25 season.