James Maddison, Tottenham Hotspur's 29-year-old midfielder, suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in August 2025, forcing him to miss most of the 2025-26 season [1, 2, 3]. Maddison described that year as the "toughest year of his life," balancing rehabilitation with life at home caring for five children aged five and under, including his partner’s recent birth of their second set of twins [4, 1, 2, 3].
Reflecting on his injury and family life, Maddison said, "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" [1]. He acknowledged the challenges at home, noting, "A lot of nappies flying about, a lot of accidents at home, but it'll all be worth it. We still love it. I wouldn't change it for the world" [1, 2, 3].
Maddison’s eldest son, Leo, struggled to remember his father playing football due to the prolonged absence, with Maddison stating, "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 couldn't even remember over a year ago when he was at all the games" [1]. He added, "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" [1].
Since March 2026, Roberto de Zerbi has been Tottenham's head coach. Maddison praised him, saying, "He's very clever. He's very tactical. He's obsessed with football, you can see that" [1].
Maddison hopes to be fit and available for Tottenham's Premier League opener against Brentford on Saturday, August 22, 2026, as the club begins the 2026-27 season [2, 3].
