Historical Cult Hero: Spurs – Allan Nielsen
As one of just six ever-presents in the Premier League, Tottenham have had their fair share of cult heroes, particularly with the huge turnover of players and managers in that time.
Countless full-backs, going back to Justin Edinburgh and Mauricio Taricco through to Erik Edman and Benoit Assou-Ekotto in more recent seasons, fit the bill.
If only for his goal in that Cup Winners Cup Final against Arsenal for Real Zaragoza, Nayim is a contender, while Ruel Fox and Andy Sinton also had their moments.
You could even make a case for a couple of classier more recent Spurs players, Dimitar Berbatov and Rafael van der Vaart.
But as one Danish midfielder runs the show for Tottenham these days, we’re going to go back a couple of decades to another.
Allan Nielsen might not have the innate talent of Christian Eriksen, but his four-year spell at White Hart Lane will be fondly remembered by all.
ARRIVING AT THE LANE
A teenage prodigy from Denmark, Nielsen was scooped up as an 18-year-old by Bayern Munich only to be discarded after one substitute appearance in three seasons.
A return to his native Denmark, via a fruitless spell in Switzerland with Sion, saw him come into his own, making his international debut in 1995.
A year later and after a good show in Euro 96, Tottenham manager Gerry Francis, the man who tried to take the mullet into the 90s and beyond, had obviously spotted something, and Spurs bought Nielsen for £1.65million from Brondby.
THE EARLY YEARS
Nielsen made his debut against Wimbledon – a team against whom he would later enjoy great success – however on that occasion Spurs were beaten 1-0 with the Dane taken off at half-time.
He quickly cemented his place in the Tottenham midfield though, scoring his first goal in a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in October of that season.
A constant goal threat from midfield during his time with Spurs, he managed three in as many games during the Christmas period of his first season, and finished with six in all in 33 appearances.
LEAGUE CUP HERO
Francis and then Christian Gross had been and gone in barely two seasons at Spurs for Nielsen, but in 1998 George Graham arrived.
His time at Tottenham will not be fondly remembered by all, but it did bring some silverware, and Nielsen was at the heart of it.
In a season when he scored nine goals – including one very fortuitous rebound against Wimbledon, none was more important than the 93rd-minute winner for ten-man Spurs at Wembley against Leicester.
After Justin Edinburgh had seen red for falling into Robbie Savage’s trap and reacting to a bad tackle, a Tottenham win seemed unlikely.
But with extra-time beckoning, Steffen Iversen showed an unlikely turn of pace to get down the left and Kasey Keller parried his shot into the path of Nielsen.
He needed no second invitation and headed home from five yards for the latest of late winners, earning the man-of-the-match award in the process.
SAYING GOODBYE
Nielsen spent another season at Tottenham before being offloaded by Graham, but in total he racked up 115 appearances for Spurs, scoring 18 goals.
It was the arrival of Tim Sherwood that signalled the end for Nielsen and by February of 2000, he was sent out on-loan to Wolves.
His last game with Tottenham would prove to be a 1-0 defeat to Leeds, but he did check in with his former club when they signed Eriksen, the two remain the only Danes to have played for Tottenham.
