Mail Sport, with assistance from our readers, is dedicated to uncovering the greatest player of all time for each of the 20 Premier League clubs.
Today, we’re focusing on the legends of Tottenham Hotspur, tracing their journey from the innovative ‘push and run’ team to stars like Glenn Hoddle and Harry Kane.
Once you’ve decided who deserves the title of the greatest ever, don’t forget to cast your vote…
As the club’s anthem ‘Glory, Glory Tottenham Hotspur’ indicates, Spurs have consistently taken pride in their exciting players, despite not clinching the English championship since 1961.
The team revolutionized English football by adopting a push-and-run strategy that led to their league victory in 1951; forwards would often withdraw deeper to facilitate shorter passing plays, in contrast to the traditional long ball approach.
Future England manager Alf Ramsey was integral to Spurs’ revolutionary tactics.
Danny Blanchflower captained Spurs in 1961 and was the brains of the team.
Alf Ramsey, who later became the England manager, played a pivotal role in this groundbreaking system. Although he played defensively, he was entrusted with launching attacks thanks to his exceptional passing range.
Among the title-winning squad was one of the best goalkeepers of the time, Ted Ditchburn.
Ditchburn debuted soon after World War II in 1946 and served until 1958, missing only two matches in an astonishing eight-year span, which included a streak of 247 consecutive league matches.
Tottenham became the first team in the 20th century to claim both the League and FA Cup Double, a feat that even modern supporters yearn for.
At the helm of the 1961 team was Northern Ireland’s Danny Blanchflower, whose saying ‘The game is about glory’ encapsulated the exhilarating style in which Spurs played.
Blanchflower was known for his graceful control in midfield, earning the Footballer of the Year title twice—one of only eight players to achieve this, the most recent being Mohamed Salah.
He also netted a penalty during the 1962 FA Cup final against Burnley as Spurs defended their trophy, and in 1963, he became the first English club captain to lift a European trophy after Spurs defeated Atletico Madrid 5-1 in the Cup Winners’ Cup final.
In contrast, Dave Mackay provided Spurs with the resilience and grit required for silverware. Already a Scottish Championship winner with Hearts, Mackay’s experience proved invaluable after he joined Spurs in 1959.
Mackay was crucial during the Double season, featuring in 37 of Tottenham’s 42 league matches and participating in both FA Cup-winning squads.
Dave Mackay (left) was known for his tenacity; his character helped Spurs secure silverware.
Jimmy Greaves was Tottenham’s record goalscorer for decades before being outdone by Harry Kane.
Jimmy Greaves joined Spurs after a difficult spell in Italy post-Doublé season, quickly becoming one of the club’s most beloved players. His remarkable total of 266 goals stood as a club record for many years.
Renowned for his one-on-one finishing skill, Greaves glided past defenders with ease. He scored twice in the 1963 triumph over Atletico and was part of the 1967 FA Cup-winning squad.
On four occasions while with Spurs, Greaves was the top scorer in the First Division, adding to the two instances during his earlier days at Chelsea. He was also known for scoring on his debut for every club he represented, including England, though he was controversially omitted from the roster for the 1966 World Cup Final.
The 1970s center-forward Martin Chivers, while lacking Greaves’ grace, was a formidable target man with a keen eye for goal, scoring a remarkable 174 goals, including a thunderous strike against Wolves that helped Spurs clinch the 1974 UEFA Cup.
Martin Chivers was a robust forward with a keen goal-scoring instinct, netting 174 goals for Spurs.
Spurs developed a reputation as a cup team under Keith Burkenshaw in the early 1980s, winning the FA Cup twice and taking the UEFA Cup after defeating Anderlecht.
Burkenshaw fostered a strong partnership with his captain Steve Perryman, whose 655 league appearances for the club remain an enduring record.
Homegrown star Glenn Hoddle was a phenomenal midfield creator, known for his long-range passes and spectacular volleys, akin to an NFL quarterback for the team.
Hoddle played a key role in the back-to-back FA Cup victories in 1981 and 1982, scoring the winning penalty against QPR in the latter’s replay at Wembley.
Joining him in that successful era was Argentine World Cup-winning midfielder Ossie Ardiles. His arrival, alongside Ricky Villa in 1978, generated unprecedented excitement in a league that was not used to foreign players.
Ricky Villa scored one of the most iconic goals in FA Cup history during the 1981 final.
Homegrown star Glenn Hoddle was an exceptional midfielder and remains a club legend.
A brilliant talent, Paul Gascoigne was instrumental in Spurs’ journey to the 1991 FA Cup final.
Ardiles became a fan favorite, especially after inspiring the hit record Ossie’s Dream following the club’s cup final win in 1981. However, it was Villa who stole the limelight with a solo goal against Manchester City, hailed as one of the best ever seen at Wembley.
Transitioning from the successful 1980s to the FA Cup win in 1991 was stalwart Gary Mabbutt, whose 611 appearances before retiring in 1998 make him second on the all-time list, behind Perryman.
Paul Gascoigne shared that throughout his career, Mabbutt was the only player who could consistently challenge him in training.
Gascoigne made headlines after joining Spurs for a then-record £2 million in 1988, becoming a national hero for his performances in the 1990 World Cup.
This charismatic genius led Spurs to the 1991 FA Cup final, scoring stunning goals including a powerful free-kick against Arsenal, but his journey took a turn due to a reckless foul that left him injured against Nottingham Forest.
Famed for his dribbling skills, teammate Gary Lineker remarked, ‘He possessed immense confidence and strength, often shrugging opponents off.’
Despite being a major club, it’s noteworthy that Spurs have only won two League Cups since 1991.
Jurgen Klinsmann introduced a sense of glamour when he joined from the 1994 World Cup, marking the arrival of a genuine A-list foreign player and paving the way for more to follow.
Jurgen Klinsmann brought a wave of glamour when he signed after the 1994 World Cup.
Harry Kane was the club’s top scorer until his recent transfer to Bayern Munich in summer 2023.
Klinsmann celebrated his first goal with a theatrical dive—a response to accusations of diving—that endeared him to fans. He returned to Spurs for a second stint in 1998 to help stave off relegation, scoring four times in a vital 6-2 victory at Wimbledon.
In 2023, Harry Kane surpassed Greaves’ longstanding goal record with his 267th goal for Spurs, netted against Manchester City.
Though Kane never secured a trophy with Spurs, he accomplished nearly everything else, including 213 Premier League goals—second only to Alan Shearer—and winning the Golden Boot three times.
Kane’s remarkable consistency stood in stark contrast to the tumultuous managerial changes at Tottenham, and after serving under nine different managers, few fans resented his move to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023.
To vote for your greatest Tottenham player, click the voting button or email greatest@dailymail.co.uk if you wish to nominate someone not on the list.
We will disclose the results for the greatest player of all time across all 20 Premier League clubs before the start of the 2024/25 season.
