Maddison: Twins Were a Distraction from Injury

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has described the past year as the toughest of his life, as he balanced a serious knee injury with the arrival of his second set of twins. The 29-year-old missed most of the 2025-26 season after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in August.

In an exclusive interview with Kelly Somers for BBC Sport's The Football Interview, Maddison revealed how his family helped him through the challenging period. 'I needed that positive distraction of my partner being pregnant and having to be there for her and forget about myself, even though I was going through a traumatic experience through my knee,' he said.

Family Life Amid Recovery

Maddison and his partner now have five children aged four and under, including two sets of twins. He admitted that life at home has been chaotic, with 'a lot of nappies flying about, a lot of accidents at home,' but he wouldn't have it any other way. 'We still love it. I wouldn't change it for the world,' he added.

The prolonged absence from football also affected his eldest son, Leo, who is now four and a half. Maddison explained that Leo had assumed he had left Spurs, as he couldn't remember his father playing. 'I missed a year of football, and a year in a child's life - from three and a half to four and a half - it's obviously massive,' he said. 'It would be nice for him to come to the games again and actually remember Dad playing instead of just Dad sat at home watching him with a machine on his knee.'

Spurs' Struggle and De Zerbi's Impact

Tottenham endured a difficult season, securing survival on the final day and finishing just two points above the relegation zone. Maddison admitted it was tough to watch from the sidelines, especially as the team lacked creativity. 'I'm watching the games thinking, 'what would I be doing there?'' he said.

Italian head coach Roberto de Zerbi, who took over in March, helped lift the mood at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Maddison praised his tactical acumen and obsession with football, but noted that De Zerbi initially focused on restoring the players' love for the game. One of his first actions was to organise a team meal where alcohol was allowed, encouraging the squad to relax and bond. 'He wanted us to have a night where we all just relax,' Maddison recalled. 'That feeling that we got made everyone feel more knitted together, straight away.'

De Zerbi also insisted on having Maddison on the bench, even though he wasn't fully fit. 'I was almost like, 'I'm not ready to play yet, boss',' Maddison said. 'But he said no. He said I can come on the bench in my slippers if I want. He just wanted me around the group and he thought that would benefit the group. I took that as a massive compliment and just acted as if I was part of the bench, part of the team.'

Looking Ahead

Maddison made his return against Leeds on 11 May but has not been risked in pre-season so far. Despite that, he remains optimistic about the upcoming campaign. 'I'm working so hard to try and be fully fit and available for the majority of the season,' he said. 'I want just a fully fit, healthy season where I can just enjoy football.'

The Football Interview airs on BBC One at 12:45 every Saturday during the Premier League season, and is also available on BBC iPlayer, BBC Football YouTube, and the BBC Sport website and app. The first episode of the new season, featuring Maddison, will be available on Saturday, 22 August.