Tottenham's Summer Tour 2013: What We Know About the Premier League Club's Plans

Prior to last week's 0-0 draw with Jamaica, the last time Tottenham Hotspur had played a game immediately following a season's conclusion was in May 2005. On that occasion, the North London club beat Mauritius 2-0.

Postseason tours and friendlies are not a regular occurrence for Tottenham. More familiar is the makeup of their summer schedule as they prepare for a new campaign.

Over the following few pages, Bleacher Report looks at the confirmed fixtures on Spurs' summer itinerary and ponders what else may be on the agenda for Andre Villas-Boas' squad.

Barclays Asia Trophy in July

Back in January, Tottenham officially confirmed their involvement in the 2013 Barclays Asia Trophy.

Taking place in Hong Kong between July 24 and 27, Spurs will compete alongside Manchester City, Sunderland and South China. A final and third-place playoff conclude the tournament, both on the latter date.

Spurs' semifinal opponents have not yet been confirmed.

This year's tournament celebrates the 10th anniversary of the inaugural competition. Held every two years since 2003, this summer marks Spurs' second entry.

In 2009, a pair of goals from Robbie Keane and another score from Aaron Lennon saw the club capture the trophy in a 3-0 win over Hull City. In the semifinal, a solitary Jermain Defoe strike against West Ham United sealed a 1-0 scoreline.

Tottenham have a link to prospective 2013 opponent South China, who they lost to in a friendly following the Asia Trophy four years ago.

The two clubs are partners and Tottenham's team website described how they have worked "closely together over the past four years to provide opportunities for coaches and players from both Clubs to gain overseas experience."

Like this partnership, the Asia Trophy is an exercise in extending the reach of Tottenham's brand in overseas markets as well as preseason playing opportunities.

In recent years, this has manifested itself in appearances in similar mini-tournaments in South Korea (2005), South Africa (2007 and 2011) and Holland (2008), as well as tours of the United States (2010 and 2012).

The Preseason Opener

Yet to be announced is Tottenham's preseason opener.

Often, this will be against lower-league English opposition, as was the case in 2012 when Tottenham defeated Stevenage 2-0.

From 2001 to 2007, a regular fixture against the Hertfordshire club took place early in Spurs' preseason campaign. Throughout that time, Stevenage's Broadhall Way was home to Spurs' reserve team—this summer fixture was part of the arrangement.

On other occasions, Spurs have got back to work with games on tour. In 2000, they began their programme with three fixtures against Scandinavian clubs.

Spain was the destination in 2008. Then-manager Juande Ramos took his team to his home country, beginning with some low-key workouts against regional sides. The ante was upped slightly with a match against Hercules CF, then of the Segunda Division.

Spurs' preseason will likely begin in one of these two fashions. Given their stay in Hong Kong in July, we will likely see one or two matches against Football League opposition to get them started.

The Curtain-Raiser

Tottenham generally conclude their preseason with some games against tougher opposition. This is part of a carefully designed plan to ready them for the commencement of the Premier League.

Traditionally, this will conclude with at least one fixture at White Hart Lane, giving many fans their first glimpse of the team in a curtain-raiser ahead of the new campaign.

Recent seasons have seen Spurs welcome Athletic Bilbao, Fiorentina and Olympiakos, among others.

Last summer's programme was unique in that it did not feature a home fixture—a result of London's services being otherwise occupied by the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Instead, Spurs went into the season on the back of a 2-0 loss away at Valencia.

No announcement has yet been made as to who Tottenham will be facing as they conclude this summer's preseason schedule.

The Daily Mail's John Edwards reported back in January that part of the deal that Schalke agreed to in selling Lewis Holtby to Spurs included plans for a friendly between the two clubs at some stage.

Following former captain Ledley King's retirement in July 2012, the team announced that a Testimonial Match would "take place at the end of the 2012/2013 season, with the opposition determined at a later date."

A Testimonial Gala Dinner took place for King earlier this month, but no celebratory match has been confirmed yet.

After the announcement of Spurs' partnership with Real Madrid in August 2012, some (including this writer) wondered whether the Spanish giants might be arranged as the opposition for King's testimonial.

With Real Madrid being linked frequently to Gareth Bale—the latest story appearing in yesterday's Daily Mail—it is unlikely Villas-Boas or chairman Daniel Levy would want their star player in such close proximity to his reported pursuers.