Parks' life

At the end of his first season back at White Hart Lane, Tottenham’s new Head of Goalkeeping has just begun a 12-month mission to achieve his UEFA Pro Licence, and he is relishing every facet of the course so far.

In November last year Tony Parks left his post as one of The FA’s National Goalkeeping Coaches to join Harry Redknapp’s backroom team at Spurs, and he believes adding the Pro Licence to his coaching repertoire will only assist him in the coming years.

"It’s been fantastic," Parks told TheFA.com.

"There’s a lot of information but there’s obviously a lot of time to take it all in. At the minute, I don’t have any long-term plans to be an outright manager, but I do manage a department at Tottenham so a lot of the stuff on this course will benefit me as a goalkeeping coach - as well as an outfield coach - and also with knowing what teams need to do in terms of planning and preparation."

Parks spent six years at White Hart Lane as a player in the 1980s, his champagne moment coming in 1984 when his penalty shoot-out save from Anderlecht’s Arnor Gudjohnsen won Spurs the UEFA Cup.

His post-Tottenham career encompassed spells at a number of other clubs including West Ham, Brentford, Burnley and Blackpool and he joined The FA in 2001 working with the England Youth Teams. During his seven-year tenure at Soho Square Parks had a hand in the development of a number of ‘keepers such as Joe Hart, Tom Heaton and Scott Carson.

"I don’t think I would have been as confident or as assured of myself had I not had my experiences at The FA," he admitted. "It was a terrific learning curve for me and I worked with some great people."

His role at The FA, which included a number of international fixtures during the summer months, meant he wasn’t able to begin the Pro Licence until now, but he is certainly looking forward to the year ahead – both on the course and at Spurs.

"The emphasis of the Pro Licence isn’t exactly on on-field coaching, it’s more about organisation and delegation and working in teams. It’s a different way of looking at things but I’ve no doubt it will make me a better all-round coach, and that will obviously benefit both me and Tottenham.

"I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at Spurs so far," he continued.

"Harry’s a magnificent manager and he’s a nice man to work for. He’s got a good staff around him but the main thing for me has been the response of the players. There are some very talented players at Spurs, they’re a genuinely good group of boys and they want the club to be recognised as one of the best in the country again."

Armed with the UEFA Pro Licence - football’s top qualification - Parks will be better equipped to help his old club to meet that aim.