James Maddison says five young kids helped him through ACL injury

James Maddison has said raising five children aged four and under with his partner became a positive distraction while he recovered from a ruptured ACL that sidelined the Tottenham midfielder for 375 days. The birth of their second set of twins during rehab helped him focus on family rather than his traumatic knee injury.

In a BBC interview airing on 22 August, Maddison described the past year as the toughest of his life — yet credited his home life for helping him through it. For more stories on resilience and recovery, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.

Key Takeaways

• Maddison missed most of the 2025-26 season after rupturing his ACL last August.
• His partner gave birth to a second set of twins during his 375-day recovery.
• The couple are raising five children aged four and under at home.
• Maddison returned against Leeds on 11 May but has not been risked in pre-season yet.
• The Football Interview with Kelly Somers debuts on BBC One at 12:45 on 22 August.

How did James Maddison's family help during his injury?

Tottenham midfielder James Maddison told Kelly Somers he and his partner have been "in the trenches" at home with five young children. During his prolonged absence from football, Maddison's partner gave birth to their second set of twins.

"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.

Life at home has not been easy — "a lot of nappies flying about, a lot of accidents at home" — but Maddison insisted: "We still love it. I wouldn't change it for the world."

What injury sidelined James Maddison for most of 2025-26?

The 29-year-old suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) last August. He missed most of the 2025-26 Premier League season as a result, watching from the sidelines as Spurs struggled to avoid relegation.

Maddison returned to action against Leeds on 11 May after 375 days out. He said it was tough watching games and wondering what he would have done differently on the pitch.

What did Maddison say about his eldest son and Spurs?

Because Maddison missed a full year of football, his eldest son Leo briefly assumed his father had left Tottenham. "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," Maddison said.

Leo could not remember attending games more than a year earlier. Maddison hopes his son will soon see him playing again rather than "Dad sat at home watching him with a machine on his knee."

When and where can you watch The Football Interview?

The Football Interview airs on BBC One at 12:45 every Saturday during the Premier League season. The first episode of the new season, featuring Maddison, is available on Saturday 22 August.

It is also available on BBC iPlayer, BBC Football YouTube, and the BBC Sport website and app. On BBC One Scotland HD, the episode runs from 12:45 PM to 1:00 PM.

What are Maddison's hopes for the new season?

Despite returning in May, Maddison has not been risked in pre-season so far. He is working hard to be fully fit and available for the majority of the upcoming campaign.

"If I'm fully fit and I'm healthy, then I know what I'm capable of. And I know that I can affect games more than a lot of players in this league," he said.