Picking a Best Tottenham Hotspur XI Using Only 1 Player of Each Nationality
Want to avoid feeling old? Do not look at how a football club's playing staff has changed over 16 years.
Going back over Tottenham Hotspur's, it was extraordinary to realise just how many players have passed through. In the grand scheme of things, even the most significant experiences involving some of the club's bigger names were ephemeral.
One of the biggest changes over the early years of the 21st century has been how an increasing number of nationalities have been represented at the club. And with that in mind, how would a truly international Spurs side look?
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Criteria and Formation
Each country can only be represented by one player. In cases of dual citizenship, only the country the player represents at international level will be considered.
It has to be a workable formation, so no 2-3-5. In this case, we have a 4-3-3/4-3-2-1 lineup, and we want to keep it current, so the players have to have represented the club since 2000.
Goalkeeper: Hugo Lloris, France
Hugo Lloris has been Tottenham's first-choice goalkeeper for four years now. That is longer than any player in the role since Ian Walker in the 1990s.
With due respect to the likes of Paul Robinson, Heurelho Gomes and Brad Friedel, Lloris has been a cut above in simultaneously checking boxes of ability, consistency and age.
Below-par days are rare. He has been outstanding through changes in managerial regime and behind the defences assigned to protect his goal. The France captain has been immense in a recent rough patch for Spurs, too—see the above video against Bayer Leverkusen for one such example.
The best Frenchman to play for the club since David Ginola—the winger narrowly misses out on the 2000-01 cut-off—he is also one of their best-ever transfer coups.
Right-back: Stephen Carr, Republic of Ireland
With an eye on another English inclusion precluding Kyle Walker's selection, we go with Stephen Carr in the right-back position.
The Republic of Ireland international made his Tottenham debut in 1993 and left in 2004. Citing staleness at the time, per Sky Sports' Paul Higham, had he stayed he may have ended up pushing 15 years or more in north London.
Injury cost Carr the whole of 2001-02, but when available in the early part of that decade, he reiterated his worth as one of the Premier League’s best full-backs. Hard to beat on his flank, he was often just as difficult to contain going forward.
Centre-back: Toby Alderweireld, Belgium
Any of Tottenham's current Belgian contingent would be a worthy representative of this team. They contributed to one of the best seasons of the Premier League era for the north Londoners and each are fine individual talents.
Toby Alderweireld gets the nod ahead of fellow centre-back Jan Vertonghen and midfielder Mousa Dembele. Partly with an eye on balance in this fantasy XI, but also for how quickly he took to life at Spurs.
Albeit benefiting from his year on loan at Southampton, Alderweireld was an immediate success. An ideal counterpoint to Vertonghen's more front-foot style of defending, his good timing and positional awareness also extends to working well with his right-back and chipping in with the occasional goal.
Spurs fans' fondness for him was seen when they voted him their player of the year in 2015-16 ahead of several other good contenders.
Centre-back: Ledley King, England
It is tough leaving Harry Kane out of any team. He continues to produce for Tottenham, and fans will hope his new contract means plenty of great days ahead.
But with considerable other alternatives in the forward-ranks, the spot for an Englishman had to go to another youth-team graduate, centre-back Ledley King.
The ex-captain's name can still be heard sung around White Hart Lane over four years since he retired (again, where the heck did the time go?). While fitness problems cost him big chunks of his career, when he was available, there was not a better defender around.
Fleet of foot and with enviable quick-thinking, too, King's tackles were firm, precise and so often rescued Spurs. He was versatile enough to play elsewhere, and he could glide around the pitch and pick out team-mates with a range of passing.
King was the captain of the 2008 League Cup-winning side, and he is one of the most beloved to have ever played for Tottenham.
Left-back: Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Cameroon
Benoit Assou-Ekotto, one of King's team-mates, was classified as French when he joined Tottenham in 2006. By the time he departed in 2015, he had been recognised as a Cameroon international.
The periods that bookended the left-back's Spurs stay were tough, falling foul of injuries and latterly unfavourable managerial preferences. In between times, he established himself as first-choice in his position under Harry Redknapp.
Those were good years for player and club. They battled for Champions League qualification and made the tournament in 2010-11.
With the adventurous Gareth Bale ahead of him, the intelligent Assou-Ekotto was a vital covering presence behind.
Midfield: Luka Modric, Croatia
In our three-man midfield full of bite, Luka Modric can more than hold his own. Deceptively strong, he was often just as valuable at Tottenham for his efforts dispossessing opponents hounded into blind alleys.
Still, it is the Croatian’s shaping of play via well-chosen, time-buying runs and exemplary passing that makes fitting him in this team a must.
During his spell at Spurs, the likes of Bale, Jermain Defoe and Rafael van der Vaart benefited from Modric's fine creative work. That he is doing the same job at Real Madrid for Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo and, yes, that Welshman again, says it all about this man's quality.
Midfield: Steffen Freund, Germany
Steffen Freund is a member of Tottenham Hotspur’s Hall of Fame. For a man who spent just four years playing for the club during an up-and-down time, this is no small achievement.
The fan-favourite and 1999 League Cup-winner was a committed, hard-tackling midfielder and would be a solid anchor for this team. If these challenges did not get the crowd pumped up, then he could sometimes be seen cheerleading himself.
Though famous for never scoring for Spurs before his 2003 exit, he was no mere hacker.
Freund won the 1996 European Championship with Germany and the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund the following season. He is a deserving entry in any all-star team.
Midfield: Edgar Davids, Netherlands
Making his first White Hart Lane appearance in a friendly against Porto in August 2005, the reception Edgar Davids received was testament to his star status.
One of world football's most recognisable and established talents, the Dutchman played a key part in turning his compatriot Martin Jol’s young side into contenders for European spots.
Operating to the left of Tottenham's midfield, Davids' tenacious all-round play offered a welcome, gritty counterpoint to the pacy Aaron Lennon out right.
He would provide similar balance to this side's more attack-minded performers. A skilful player in his own right, he would be a threat no opposition could afford to ignore.
Attacking midfield: Christian Eriksen, Denmark
Now in his fourth season at Tottenham, Christian Eriksen has recorded over 30 goals and 30 assists since joining from Ajax. Where others have struggled to adapt, for form or fitness, he has been a reliable source of production.
Currently in one of his quieter spells, it is usually not long until he is back making a regular difference in the final third. His languid, quiet playing style still can catch teams out.
Time will tell if the 24-year-old can reach another level in his game. But as playmakers go, he is already one of the best around.
Attacking midfield: Gareth Bale, Wales
In October, Bale reportedly signed a new contract at Real Madrid worth £350,000 per week, per the Guardian's Ed Aarons.
With two Champions League winners' medals to his name, the Wales international has advanced considerably since his time at Tottenham.
When all is said and done in his career, his stay in north London will still form a major part of the story.
After an injury-blighted first couple of seasons, he transformed from a promising left-back to one of the most feared attacking midfielders in Europe. Skilful, fast, strong and with lethal finishing, on his day he was one of the most breathtaking players to ever wear a Spurs shirt.
Centre-forward: Dimitar Berbatov, Bulgaria
With spots already given in this team to English and Irishmen, we have to look beyond Defoe, Kane and Robbie Keane for our striker.
The obvious choice is Dimitar Berbatov.
"Myself, English football and Tottenham Hotspur—I feel like we just clicked," the brilliant Bulgarian told the club's website recently (above). "As a player, I like to be an entertainer, so from that perspective I think that Spurs was a very good fit for me as a football club."
They were the footballing equivalent of a typical Hollywood marriage. Beautiful, thrilling and full of good intentions together, but never meant to last.
Berbatov left for Manchester United and won trophies, but he was not given the freedom to express himself like at Spurs. Perhaps the better movie-metaphor, then, is he swapped art for commerce.
Capable on his own or teaming up with a variety of partners, under the right management, Berbatov in his prime was something special. Any team would be better for having him.
We have superb quality right through the spine of this team, but did we miss someone? Who would make your Tottenham XI if you could only choose one player from each nationality?
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