Best Tottenham Players Of All Time | 20 Spurs Legends Ranked
Even though the fact that Tottenham Hotspur have not won any major silverware in the Premier League Era apart from two League Cup trophies – one from 1999, the other from 2008, they still remain one of the biggest and most followed clubs in England.
There have been many top-four finishes and plenty of near-misses. Perhaps the biggest point of pride Tottenham can claim from the Premier League era is that they are one of few clubs never to have been relegated. Having said that, there are many great players who have played for this club. Among the best Tottenham players of all time, we have sorted out 20 Spurs legends who shook this North London club.
Considering the impact, success, longevity, consistency and loyalty, here are the best Tottenham Players of all time.
20. Mike England [1966–1975]
Mike England is among the greatest centre-backs the club ever had. During his time at Tottenham Hotspur, he won the inaugural 1972 UEFA Cup Final and was runner-up in the same competition 2 years later. His time at Spurs also yielded two League Cup trophies and an FA Cup title.
19. Gary Mabbutt [1982–1998]
Mabbutt spent 16 years at Tottenham and was club captain for most of them. He joined Spurs from Bristol Rovers in 1982 and became one of the finest English defenders of the era. During his time, he won the UEFA Cup as a player and the FA Cup as the captain of the team. He made over 600 apps for the club before retiring in 1998.
18. Cyril Knowles [1964–1975]
The left-back made over 500 appearances for the club in a career spanning 11 years. Knowles was famed for his crossing ability, creating countless opportunities from open play as well as set pieces.
A stalwart of the Spurs’ first team, he missed only one league match between 1965 and 1969. With Spurs, he won the FA Cup in 1967, the League Cup in 1971 and 1973 and a UEFA Cup winners medal in 1972.
17. Ossie Ardiles [1978–1982, 1983–1988]
Osvaldo Ardiles joined Tottenham in 1978 and spent the next ten seasons with the club. He made over 300 appearances for the club. The skilful midfielder was capped over 50 times by Argentina and was instrumental as Spurs won the 1981 FA Cup and 1984 Uefa Cup.
16. Alan Gilzean [1964–1974]
Alan Gilzean was a striker for Tottenham Hotspur, for whom he was part of the FA Cup-winning team of 1967 and, later, the great Spurs side which in successive seasons between 1971 and 1973 won two League Cups and a Uefa Cup.
He formed an effective goal-scoring partnership alongside crowd favourite Jimmy Greaves, and together they were referred to by fans as the “G-Men”. He scored 133 goals in 439 apps for the club.
15. Gary Lineker [1989–1992]
A Spurs legend, Lineker made 138 appearances for Spurs. He grabbed 80 goals—none of which were more important than the two he scored in the 1991 F.A. Cup semifinal win over archrivals Arsenal on the way to Wembley glory. He is undoubtedly one of Tottenham’s best forward of the modern day.
14. Gareth Bale [2007-2013, 2020-2021]
Gareth Bale was a fullback when he initially signed for the club from Southampton in 2007. During his time at Tottenham, managerial and tactical shifts saw him transform into a more attacking player. He became one of the best Premier League players during that time and received a number of personal accolades.
He was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, as well as the PFA Young Player of the Year, the FWA Footballer of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season. Bale was nominated to the PFA Team of the Year three times in a row between 2011 and 2013.
He was sold to Real Madrid in 2013, where he went on to win a plethora of trophies. He returned to the club on loan for the 2020-21 season.
13. Son Heung-min [2015- ]
Son has been sensational for Tottenham since joining the club in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen. He is the driving force in the current team and is currently one of the best players in the Premier League. His partnership with Harry Kane up front is the most prolific in Premier League history. He has won Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Season thrice. Son has scored 145 goals and made 80 assists in his career for Tottenham.
12. Ledley King [1999–2012]
Ledley King is one of the best defenders to have played for Tottenham Hotspur. He spent his entire professional career with the club from 1999 to 2012 and won the League Cup trophy in 2008.
Having come through the Club’s Academy ranks, Ledley made his senior debut as an 18-year-old, coming on as a substitute during a 3-2 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield in May 1999. It took another season before the London-born youngster properly established himself in the First Team, but once he did so during the 2000-01 campaign, there was no looking back. Over the next few seasons, Ledley earned recognition as one of the best young defenders in the country, also often operating as a defensive midfielder.
The most astonishing stat is that King went the whole of his career with just eight yellow cards. Arsenal legend Thierry Henry once admitted that King was the best defender he ever faced. He was also trusted to be the captain of Tottenham Hotspur for four years, from 2005 to 2009. He is one of the latest entries among the Spurs legends.
11. Paul Gascoigne [1988–1991]
One of the best Tottenham players of all time, Gascoigne, was a creative, hard-working, and technically gifted playmaker. Playing as an attacking midfielder, he was capable both of scoring and setting up goals. He also had very good passing accuracy and powerful striking ability.
Paul Gascoigne was one of the best English midfielders of all time who played for Tottenham Hotspur in the period 1988-1992. While his time was short with the club, it was a sweet few years after arriving from Newcastle.
He had a good pace and excellent dribbling skills, which allowed him to protect the ball and beat opponents. He managed to make 100 appearances for Spurs. During his period at Tottenham Hotspur, he helped Spurs to a FA Cup trophy in 1991. He was also a vital part of the English team that finished third in the 1990 World Cup.
I’m afraid you have got some details very wrong Jimmy Greaves was not part of the famous Spurs Double Team. Jimmy signed for Spurs the following season 1961/1962.
These are the players who played most games in the Double season:
Brown, Baker, Henry, Blanchflower, Norman, Mackay, Jones, White, Smith, Allen and Dyson. Jimmy Greaves replaced Les Allen who was transfered to QPR. Who is the father of former Spurs player Clive Allen.
OPPS I’ve made a big mistake egg on my face. Your article about Jimmy Greaves was correct. I misread the the sentence below Dave Mackay thinking it was about Jimmy Greaves. BIG APOLOGIES FROM MYSELF….
Was just about to correct you Terry! Thought you had misread where it said he made the double winning team stronger
Dave Mackay should have been number 1, he changed everything when brought in, was the driving force within the team.
for loyalty , passion and love for the club Gary Mabbot
You state that Dave Mackay won the league twice. Oh how I wish that was true but he only won it once during the double year.
Thank you for correcting us.
We have done the needful.
GET LINEKER OFF THE LIST
Sol ????
Gary Lineker shouldn’t be included much better players than him
You left out kurgan klinsmann
Jurgen