Tottenham’s Greatest Premier League XI
Tottenham have had their fair share of great players through the years, and as one of just six ever-present teams left in the Premier League, there are plenty of contenders for an all-time XI.
The current team has twice challenged for the title only to fall short, but it’s no surprise that a few present-day players have made the team.
If the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli continue on their current trajectory, they will be in this line-up sooner rather than later.
Hugo Lloris
Tottenham have had a few keepers last a fair few years but current skipper Hugo Lloris has already established himself as the best of the bunch. There might have been a few rumbles of discontent when he came in and displaced Brad Friedel but the France No.1 quickly established himself as Tottenham’s leader and the star man between the sticks.
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Stephen Carr
Kyle Walker has probably had higher highs, but for consistency over an extended period, no one can touch Carr, who was the epitome of reliability for more than a decade. Regularly playing every minute of a Premier League season, the Republic of Ireland international was also a true leader for Spurs.
Toby Alderweireld
Perhaps a little premature but in two seasons Toby Alderweireld has proven himself as one of the best defenders in the league. His injury this season coincided with Tottenham’s loss of form, and his distribution is a cut above the vast majority of players at the back. Certainly worth a place over he who shall not be named.
Ledley King
The first name on the teamsheet, the only frustration is what might have been if not for his bad knees. Arguably the best player Tottenham have produced this century, King was often the best defender in the league despite the fact he couldn’t train. If not for injuries, he would have been the mainstay of the England defence for as long as he wanted.
Benoit Assou-Ekotto
A cult hero at White Hart Lane, Bennie was not the most conventional left-back, but had some great moments. A real threat going forward, Assou-Ekotto spent nine years on Spurs’ books and became something of a legend for his efforts following the 2011 riots in the Tottenham area.
(Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Mousa Dembélé
A third current player, and in 2015/16 arguably Spurs’ most important player. Mousa Dembélé plays very deep but with the ball at his feet is about as hard a player to tackle as there is in the league. Immensely strong and a driving force, he has been a revelation since joining from Fulham. Still only 29, he is one of the standout performers in Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
Luka Modric
It’s something of an attacking pairing in the centre of the park but there’s no way we can leave out Luke Modric. The Croatian is now the fulcrum of European champions Real Madrid, and was already a cut above for Spurs. Diminutive he may be, but he can run a game like no other. If Madrid ever get tired of him, Tottenham would take him back in a heartbeat.
(Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
David Ginola
Tottenham weren’t the greatest team in the late 1990s, but in David Ginola they had one of the most watchable players. The French winger could beat a man with ease and in 1999 claimed the Player of the Season award and helped Spurs to the League Cup title. It was also that year that he scored a wonder goal against Barnsley in the FA Cup – the best goal in the tournament that year, no matter what Ryan Giggs fans tell you!
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Gareth Bale
For that hat-trick in Milan alone, Gareth Bale deserves a place in this team. One of the sparks of the Tottenham revolution, he started as the man who couldn’t win, to become the most expensive player in football history. In between he transformed from a left-back to the most dangerous attacking threat in the league with a vicious shot, unrivalled speed and serious power. The spearhead to Spurs’ great Champions League run in 2010/11.
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Rafael van der Vaart
He couldn’t really run, and rarely played more than an hour, but in terms of class only Dimitar Berbatov can come close in Spurs colours. A consummate finisher, flawless on the ball, he racked up 24 goals in two seasons at the Lane and was the perfect foil to whichever of Tottenham’s many striking options played in front of him. The only regret is that he didn’t stay longer.
(IAN KINGTON/AFP/GettyImages)
Teddy Sheringham
It’s tempting to put in Harry Kane already, another season of what he’s currently doing and he’ll be there but we’ll reward Teddy Sheringham for years of dedicated service. 76 goals in five years in his first spell, and another 22 second time around, Sheringham was Tottenham for much of the 1990s. He and van der Vaart would form a deadly strike partnership up front.
Honourable mentions: Ian Walker, Kyle Walker, Gary Mabbutt, Darren Anderton, Aaron Lennon, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Jurgen Klinsmann, Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe, Dimitar Berbatov
