50 Greatest Tottenham Players Ever
Bleacher Report brings you the Top 50 Tottenham Hotspur footballers ever.
Lists like this are never exhaustive, so please comment below with theĀ players you feel belong on the list.
The SpursĀ players will be ordered in alphabetical order.Ā
Who are your top five greatestĀ Tottenham Hotspur players ever?
50-46 (Alphabetical)
1 of 10
Alan Gilzean (1964-74)
His name sprung back into the footballing world when writerĀ James Morgan released the bookĀ In Search of Alan Gilzean.
His former teammateĀ Jimmy Greaves admitted to The Mirror that he hadn't seenĀ Gilzean for decades.
Gilzean never replicated his prolific goalscoring atĀ Dundee (0.9 goals per game)Ā forĀ Tottenham Hotspur but he formed anĀ indelible partnership withĀ Greaves.Ā
Alan Mullery (1964-72)
According to him, his career is remembered by two games: kicking Dobrivoje Trivic in the groin and scoring a golazo againstĀ Leicester whilst playing for Fulham, viaĀ Sam Sheringham at BBC Sport:
"I played more than 700 games in my career between the age of 15 and 34.
I can never get rid of it.Ā People always remember that game.
Or another one when I scored a volley against Leicester in the cup and it was on Match of the Day every Saturday night for a year.Ā
People just remember those two games, they don't remember the other 698.
"
This quote suggests he feels his career at Tottenham Hotspur wasn't appreciated by the greater masses.Ā
Alf Ramsey (1949-55)
He became the most important player in the club's 'push and run' strategy, perĀ Brian Glanville at The Guardian.
Ramsey played 250 games forĀ Tottenham beforeĀ inscribingĀ his name in footballing history by guiding England to victory at the 1966 FIFA World Cup.
Bill Nicholson (1938-55)
A one club-man as a player, he was a champion as a footballer and as a manager winning two first division titles, three FA Cups, two League cups, a UEFA Cup and a European Cup Winners' Cup.Ā
"Any player coming to Spurs whether he's a big signing or just a ground staff boy must be dedicated to the game and to the club,"Ā Nicholson once said. ""He must never be satisfied with his last performance, and he must hate losing."
This mantra explainsĀ Nicholson's success at Spurs.Ā
Bobby Smith (1955-64)
If not for Greaves, Smith would be Tottenham's all-time top scorer with 208 goals.
Scoring 13 times in 15 games for England indicated he deserved to play more international games.
45-41 (Alphabetical)
2 of 10
Chris Hughton (1977-90)
InĀ Roy Reyland's bookĀ Shirts, Shorts and Spurs, he saidĀ Hughton's background as a lift engineer helped mould the defender into a quality footballer.Ā
Hughton played over 250 games forĀ Tottenham Hotspur.Ā
He had a long stint as Spurs assistant manager and has since managedĀ Newcastle United,Ā Birmingham City andĀ Norwich City.Ā
Chris Waddle (1985-89)
WhenĀ Waddle said his top 1,000 footballers since the 1970s wouldn't includeĀ David Beckham, there was an underlying reason whyĀ Waddle made the astonishing statement.Ā
He was technically superior thanĀ Beckham, possessing the ability to go past players like a Brazilian but Waddle lacked the worth ethic and mental fortitudeĀ Beckham had.Ā
Beckham's cabinet is stocked with trophies whilstĀ Waddle harbours the pain of an 1987 FA Cup final loss, the 1990 FIFA World Cup penalty miss and an 1991 European Cup final defeat.Ā
Waddle, who didn't maximise his ability, resented an overachievingĀ Beckham.
Cliff Jones (1958-68)
The anecdotes inĀ Ken Ferris' bookĀ The Double: The Inside Story of Spurs' Triumphant 1960-61 SeasonĀ
provides invaluable insight into the type of playerĀ Jones was.Ā
When in doubt, pass to Jones.
Even though he had theĀ characteristicsĀ of a finesse-type footballer, he was described by Dave MackayĀ as the most fearless player heĀ had ever seen.Ā
Clive Allen (1984-88)
Allen will forever be associated with the number 49 because that was the total goals he scored for Spurs during the 1986-87 season.Ā
He received theĀ Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year and theĀ PFA Players' Player of the Year awards that season.Ā
Cyril Knowles (1964-76)
"Nice one,Ā Cyril!" chanted the Spurs fans duringĀ Knowles' spell withĀ Tottenham.Ā
Known for hisĀ overlapping runs, perhaps his success from winger-turned-full-back promptedĀ Harry Redknapp, a friend of Cyril's brother Peter,Ā to persist withĀ Gareth Bale at left-back even during the Welshman's toughest time as a footballer.Ā
Redknapp would later moveĀ Bale forward which precipitated his ascent to football's elite.Ā
40-36 (Alphabetical)
3 of 10Danny Blanchflower (1954-64)
The Independent'sĀ Ivan Ponting describedĀ Blanchflower as "one of the most creative players in the game, capable of dictating the tempo of a match like few others."
Blanchflower was an innovator on and off the field.Ā
From anĀ internationalĀ perspective, he played at a time whenĀ Northern Ireland were blessed to have players such asĀ George Best,Ā Peter McParland,Ā Harry Gregg andĀ Billy Bingham.Ā
Darren Anderton (1992-2004)
Darren Anderton never played 50 games in a season but did it warrant the nickname "sick note"?
No.
Michael Bridges orĀ Owen Hargreaves are more suitable candidates for that nickname.Ā
Injuries did slow downĀ Anderton butĀ even at the end of Anderton's career with Bournemouth, he was still producing magic.Ā
"Bournemouth will miss him because he is a player who can still unlock a game," said then Chester City manager Mark Wright, who watched Anderton score the winner for Bournemouth, via Herald.ie. "It took a wonder strike to break the deadlock and trust it to be Darren."
Dave Mackay (1959-68)
He played in an era where dirty play was par for the courseāthe lateĀ Billy Bremner typified this mentality.Ā
One of the most iconic footballing photos isĀ Mackay gritting his teeth, giving Bremner the death stare whilst grabbing the then Leeds United player's shirt.Ā
When asked about the photo,Ā Mackay told FourFourTwo "I don't like it because it portrays me as a bully."
Mackay would later forge an ironclad friendship withĀ Brian Clough atĀ Derby County as The Damned United makers found out.
David Ginola (1997-2000)
The David Ginola-Gerard Houllier feud has always been a point of interest for Premier League fans.
Houllier's resentment of Ginola making a mistake in a critical 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier ensured the career pathways of both men changed drastically.
For Ginola, he felt compelled to leave France while Houllier's successor Aime Jacquet masterminded Les Bleus' first World Cup triumph in 1998, via BBC Sport:
"The mistake made by Ginola at the end of the game in November 1993 was an ambitious cross-field pass to Cantona.
The ball was intercepted and Bulgaria's Emil Kostadinov scored, thereby booking a World Cup berth for Bulgaria in France's place.
He [Ginola] has now re-opened the row, claiming allegations made by Houllier turned him into France's public enemy number one, affecting his family, and also the health of his grandfather.
"
Houllier went on to lead Liverpool to a cup treble.
Ginola captivated Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur supporters with sublime skill (he would also play for Aston Villa and Everton).
Dimitar Berbatov (2006-08)
Bayer Leverkusen scouts found a special player when they watchedĀ Berbatov atĀ CSKA Sofia.Ā
Even though he only played two seasons withĀ Tottenham Hotspur, his flawless first touch, his ability to play his teammates in and the languid, sloth-like and deceptive dribbling was a sight to behold.Ā
35-31 (Alphabetical)
4 of 10Eddie Baily (1946-56)Ā
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Arthur Rowe said he had never seen anyone move the ball as quickly asĀ Baily.
Baily, a master at one-touch passing, was considered one of the best inside forwards of his era.Ā
Erik Thorstvedt (1989-96)
AfterĀ Thorstvedt had made anĀ Heurelho Gomes-esque error againstĀ Nottingham Forest, teammateĀ Guy Butters, in an interview with Spurs-Web.com,Ā spoke about the time he scored an own goal on his debutĀ in an attempt to cheerĀ Thorstvedt up.Ā
Thorstvedt overcame aĀ nightmarishĀ debut againstĀ Nottingham to register over 200 games for Spurs.Ā
Gareth Bale (2007-13)
He went from being a scapegoat to football's most expensive transfer ever following a season filled with spectacular long-range goals andĀ Herculean performances in a free-roaming position.Ā
"Bale has come cheaply," Real Madrid presidentĀ Florentino Perez told Cadena SER radio via The Guardian.Ā
Yep,Ā Ā£85.3 million cheap.Ā
Garth Crooks (1980-85)
Before being the chairman of the Professional Footballers' Association or a football pundit,Ā Crooks and SteveĀ Archibald were a formidableĀ one-two combo.
Gary Lineker (1989-1992)
Lineker was generally picked last in training matches, according to former teammateĀ Thorstvedt.
Former England teammateĀ Kenny Samson offered a similiar point of view regardingĀ Lineker's carefree approach to training, via The Daily Mail: "If you saw Gary in training sometimes he couldn't hit a barn door but he was outstanding in a game."
Training wasn'tĀ Lineker'sĀ forte but finishing wasāhe scored 26, 19 and 35 goals in his three seasons for Spurs.Ā
30-26 (Alphabetical)
5 of 10Gary Mabbutt (1982-1998)
He overcame a broken leg, a facial injury caused by a malicious elbow from John FashanuĀ and father-time to record the second most Spurs game played (behindĀ Steve Perryman).Ā
George Hunt (1930-37)
He had a better strike rate (0.70) than Bobby Smith (0.66)Ā Martin Chivers (0.47) andĀ Teddy Sheringham (0.45).
Hunt netted 138 goals in 198 games for Spurs.Ā
Glenn Hoddle (1975-87)
There were so many moments like when he weaved his magic againstĀ Oxford United, the quick turn followed by anĀ exquisite chipped goal againstĀ Watford and the kung-fu volley againstĀ Manchester United.
Michele Platini once claimed ifĀ Hoddle was French, he'd have 150 caps rather than 53 with England, per AndrewĀ Anthony at Observer Sport Monthly.
Graham Roberts (1980-86)
He was turned down several times, had to bide his time in non-league football, lived on the dole for a while and worked medial jobs before scoring the critical goal againstĀ Anderlecht during the 1984 UEFA Cup final second leg.Ā
A gritty, hard-working and hard as nails footballer,Ā Roberts' perseverance is a clear example for academy players who arrive at career crossroads.Ā
Jimmy Greaves (1961-70)
A legend for both Chelsea andĀ Tottenham Hotspur, he rebounded from his bitter experience at AC Milan to become the most prolific strikers in Spurs history with 266 goals.Ā
Greaves has opposed the FA seeking legal action against anyone saying the word "Yid".Ā
"I played at White Hart Lane alongside names that tripped off the tongue: Yiddle Perryman, Yiddle Mackay from Scotland, Yiddle Jones from Rhonda Valley and Yiddle Jennings from Ireland,"Ā Greaves said, viaĀ Jack de Menezes at The Independent. "They are chants in support of Tottenham Hotspur that was the case 50 years ago, so why has it suddenly become offensive now?"
25-21 (Alphabetical)
6 of 10
John White (1959-64)
WhenĀ Bill Nicholson asked for an opinion on White,Ā Danny Blanchflower responded, viaĀ Ken Ferris' book The Double: The Inside Story of Spurs' Triumphant 1960-61 Season: "Seems to have a wonderful sense of position and good control of the ball in a quiet smooth way. He would suit the team."
Like Andres Escobar andĀ Gigi Meroni, there are lingering questions over what White could have achieved in the prime of his career.
Sadly, he passed away at the age of 27 after being struck by lightning.Ā
Jurgen Klinsmann (1994-95 and 1997-98)
In his first six league games, he scored seven goals and finished with 30 goals for the season.Ā
He was named theĀ Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year but opted to leave forĀ Bayern Munich.
"My reason for leaving the Spurs was only to play on a bigger stage,"Ā Klinsmann said, viaĀ Erik Kirschbaum at The Independent. "I wanted to play top European football."
When he returned several years later, he put four pastĀ Wimbledon and scored in his final game againstĀ Southampton.
Ledley King (1999-2012)
His body consistently betrayed him forcing him to make comeback after comeback to the point where he couldn't train because his body was too fragile.Ā
"He genuinely doesn't train all week," then Spurs managerĀ Harry Redknapp said, via Sky Sports. "He is an absolute freak."
Les Allen (1959-65)Ā
He was described as an "unselfish team player, [with] strength on the ball and willingness to work went hand in hand with his control and natural eye for goal," via theĀ Tottenham Hotspur official website.Ā
His son, Clive, inherited an "natural eye for goal" once scoring 49 times for Spurs in one season.Ā
Luka Modric (2008-12)
He was an integral member of theĀ Dinamo Zagreb team that won 28 straight league games.Ā
A ball-playing midfielder,Ā Modric demonstrated high football IQ, elegance and brilliant positioning for Spurs.
He was sold to Real Madrid forĀ Ā£33 million.
20-16 (Alphabetical)
7 of 10
Mark Falco (1978-87)
A serviceable forward who scoredĀ 89 times for the club. However, he once went 12-straight games without scoring against Liverpool.Ā
Martin Chivers (1968-76)
Jimmy Greaves detailed in his bookĀ Greavsie: The Autobiography that his depression played a part in the club signingĀ Chivers:
"The fact I was not enjoying my football as much caused me to have occasional bouts of depression.
I think Bill Nicholson had noticed my lack of verve because he went out and boughtĀ Martin Chivers fromĀ Southampton for what was a then record fee ofĀ Ā£125,000.
It wasn't anĀ unsuccessfulĀ partnership but there wasn't the fire of old.
I found it increasingly difficult to adjust to the changes in the team and my tally of goals that year was one of the lowest in my career.
"
Chivers went on to score 174 goals for Spurs.
Martin Peters (1970-75)
According to Leeds United legendĀ John Giles,Ā Peters played more like aĀ strikerĀ than a midfielder hence why he earned the moniker "the ghost".
Peters would goĀ anonymousĀ for stretches of the game before popping out of nowhere to score.Ā
West Germany found out the hard way whenĀ Peters scored unmarked in the 1966 FIFA World Cup final.Ā
Maurice Norman (1955-66)Ā
A loyal servant to the club, he played over 400 times for Spurs.Ā
David Miller at The Telegraph named Norman as one of England's greatest ever defenders: "Tiller of Tottenham's Double side, undramatic but 99 percent reliable as backbone of Alf Ramsey's team until replaced by Jack Charlton."
Michael Dawson (2005-current)
He joined Spurs alongsideĀ Nottingham Forest teammateĀ Andy Reid butĀ Dawson's professionalism and work ethic is the reason why he's still at the club whilstĀ Reid, a more talented player, has been bouncing around clubs.Ā
15-11 (Alphabetical)
8 of 10
Mike England (1966-75)
According to Dean Hayes' book Welsh Football Heroes,Ā England "was a world-class centre-half, who most surely ranks as one of the best central defenders ever to play for Wales".Ā
England played over 350 games for Spurs.Ā
Ossie Ardiles (1978-82 and 1983-88)
If not for the Falklands War,Ā Ardiles wouldn't have lost a season atĀ Tottenham Hotspur.
"The war finished during the World Cup in Spain but by then I decided IĀ couldn'tĀ carry on playing in England," he said, via FourFourTwo. "I was loaned to Paris Saint Germain for a year, but had a very bad time."
Pat Jennings (1964-77 and 1985-86)Ā
In order for a goalkeeper to win theĀ Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, he'd have to be the most dominant player in the league by a significant distance, which is what happened in 1976.Ā
He felt so aggrieved by the way he was treated by Spurs management that he decided to move toĀ North London rival Arsenal.Ā
"It's the craziest thing Tottenham ever did," said former Arsenal goalkeeperĀ Bob Wilson. "TheĀ Arsenal fans thought it was Christmas."
Paul Allen (1985-93)
Part of the illustriousĀ Allen footballing family, he played eight seasons with Spurs after joining from West Ham United where he was the club's best player the previous season.Ā
Paul Gascoigne (1988-92)
Whether it's bringing ostriches to training, drinking, making daft as a brush tackles, sulking and well, just being Gazza,Ā he's one of football's most entertaining personalities.Ā
He wasn't George Best-good yet his life wasn't asĀ self-destructiveĀ asĀ Robin Friday.Ā
Gascoigne was in the middle of the two which is why there's always discussions regarding if he underachieved.Ā
In his pomp, he was theĀ bestĀ in the world.Ā
10-6 (Alphabetical)
9 of 10
Ray Clemence (1981-88)
In a different generation, he would have played 100 times for England but his career coincided withĀ Peter Shilton and the quality-gap between the two was minute.Ā
Clemence, a member of the legendary Liverpool 1970s era, played over 200 games for Spurs.Ā
Ricky Villa (1979-83)
The reason whyĀ Villa struggled with life in England was the language barrier, according toĀ Ossie Ardiles.
Before I came here, I studied English for seven years, but Ricky didn't," he said via FourFourTwo. "So I could read the papers and talk with the other players, Ricky found it harder because he couldn't speak the language."
Despite this,Ā Villa endeared himself to the Spurs faithful with a magical goal against Manchester City in the 1981 FA Cup final.Ā
Robbie Keane (2002-08 and 2009-11)
When he arrived at Tottenham Hotspur, he hadn't lived up to expectations after spells with Inter Milan and Leeds United.
With Spurs, he scored 15 goals or more in five of his first six seasons.
He came back to White Hart Lane after a disastrous stint withĀ Liverpool but never rediscovered his goal scoring touch forĀ Tottenham.
Nowadays, he's scoring goals forĀ Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS.Ā
Ron Henry (1952-66)
"I would rate Ron Henry amongst the best left-backs I ever played with, a list that includes my England teammates Ray Wilson and the great Cyril Knowles," said Jimmy Greaves via Greavsie: The Autobiography.
Henry played over 200 games for the club and was an invaluable member of the 1961 double-winning side.
Steffen Freund (1998-2003)
He came to Tottenham as a two-time Bundesliga winner and UEFA Champions League winner for Borussia Dortmund.
A serious knee injury affectedĀ Freund's stay with Spurs but he continued to fight on.
He's now an assistant manager at the club known for his passionate celebrations.Ā
5-1 (Alphabetical)
10 of 10
Steve Archibald (1980-84)
He onceĀ toldĀ SirĀ Alex Ferguson: "Garth Crooks and I have an understanding."
FergusonĀ replied: "Have you? Aye, it's a good one. He's scoring goals and you're messing around in the middle of the park."
Archibald, a technically brilliant footballer, later played several seasons withĀ Barcelona.Ā
Steve Perryman (1969-86)
AĀ stalwart who went on to play the most games in the club's history.Ā
His leadership was rated so highly that he became the captain at just 20 years of age.Ā
Sol Campbell (1992-2001)
He vindicated his decision to betray Spurs for Arsenal by winning two league titles and three FA Cups.Ā
People forget that he was one of the best defenders in the world during his time withĀ Tottenham and was named club Player of the Year for successive years.Ā
Ted Ditchburn (1939-58)
Here's The Independent's obituary forĀ Ditchburn: "For a generation and beyond, Ted Ditchburn was the yardstick by which all Tottenham Hotspur goalkeepers were judged."
Ditchburn once had a streak of 247 consecutive starts.Ā
Teddy Sheringham (1992-97 and 2001-03)
He wasn't the most skillful and didn't have searing pace but he was an instinctive goal poacher.Ā
Sheringham scored 124 goals in two spells at the club.
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