Hoddle named as the greatest player in Spurs' history

Last updated : 01 November 2016 By Footymad

C:WindowsTempphp1586.tmpHoddle was the only player to top 300 votes in a major poll conducted for the newly published book ‘Down Memory Lane”, and that elevates him to the honour of being the No 1 Spurs player of all time; some accolade. 

Glenn was clearly moved by the poll and was immensely proud to have topped the vote. In an exclusive interview for Down Memory Lane on the voting outcome, he commented: “I would first of all like to thank everybody who voted for me. I am very proud to have come out with the most marks, very proud indeed. 

“There have been some truly wonderful players down the years at Tottenham and that is what makes me feel so very proud to hear about this vote from so many players, and the fans. 

“I have supported Spurs since the age of eight years old, the club is part of my life, which makes it even more special.” 

Current Spurs captain Hugo Lloris mustered an impressive 94 votes after another fine start to the season, but only won enough to make the bench illustrating just how tough it was to be selected for the Spurs Greatest Ever Team. 

Lloris is following a tradition of great Spurs keepers that include Ted Ditchburn, who once held the record for most club appearances after playing 574 league and cup matches in the immediate post-War years until he left for Romford in 1959. 

Bill Brown took the mantle from Ditchburn and kept goal in the Double season and through the Glory Glory years before he was succeeded by Pat Jennings, who saw off Ditchburn, Brown, Ray Clemence, Erik Thorsvedt and Lloris to emerge as the undisputed winner of the No.1 shirt with 274 votes. 

Toby Alderweireld fared the best of the contemporary outfield players with a respectable 67 count while Harry Kane polled 23. 

Danny Rose (41 votes) was a popular choice with his full back partner Kyle Walker also getting a few votes. Dele Alli and Eric Dier have a long way to go before staking any realistic claims to a place in a Greatest Ever XI, but despite just a comparative “handful” of games, they did both register a vote. 

Of the recent past, Gareth Bale, Ledley King and Luka Modric were stand out candidates, Bale attracting a big vote of 264 to make it into Spurs Greatest Ever team along with King (252), with Modric on the bench with 84 votes. 

In front of Jennings in goal, the defence of Steve Perryman (252), Mike England (141), King (252) and Cyril Knowles (136) would take some beating. That’s if the opposition could get the ball off or through the midfield of Dave Mackay (218), Paul Gascoigne (247), Ossie Ardiles (193) and Glenn Hoddle (308). 

Up front Jimmy Greaves’ place was never in doubt and he secured that with 234 votes, surprisingly though Gareth Bale, who was voted in as his strike partner scored more - 264 - but that is understandable perhaps as Jimmy stopped playing for Spurs 46 years ago - hard to believe but true. 

Bale also edged out the likes of Martin Chivers, Jermain Defoe, Clive Allen, Teddy Sheringham, Juergen Klinsmann, Gary Lineker, Robbie Keane and Alan Gilzean, as well as Garth Crooks and Steve Archibald - who formed one of the most lethal partnerships of all time in the early 1980s. 

Klinsmann picked up 184 votes but with a 4-4-2 lineup and with Greaves and Bale up front he has to be content with a place on the bench. 

Teddy Sheringham was unlucky not to make the squad with a healthy vote of 71, but Lineker (80) and David Ginola (98), kept him off the bench, while Cliff Jones, who in 1967 was named as Spurs first ever substitute in an FA Cup final but never got on, would find himself sitting on the bench for this team too. 

Cliff, who picked up 95 votes, was one of one of the players to vote for himself, but as he is one of my all-time favourites and a lovely bloke at that, I totally agree with him. Garth Crooks also voted for Garth Crooks, but explained he was actually voting for his “partnership” with Steve Archibald. Graham Roberts picked himself for the bench because of his versatility. 

Chris Waddle scored 80 but failed to make the squad to emphasize just how many star quality players have passed through the Lane. Dimitar Berbatov, Darren Anderton, Graham Roberts, Defoe, Rafael Van der Vaart, Richard Gough, Chris Hughton, Ray Clemence and a few others all got a notable mention but hardly made double figures. 

Hughton, now manager at Brighton, polled quite a few votes but the competition was fierce and Nice One Cyril was a firm favourite at left back. 

Ronnie Burgess only managed a handful of votes yet he was Bill Nicholson’s favourite player. I had the privilege to have written Bill’s life story in 1984 when he told me about Burgess. 

He said at the time: “He was my favourite player in my years at Tottenham. He had everything: good feet, ability in the air, strength in the tackle and was a beautiful passer of the ball. In some ways he resembled Bryan Robson, the Manchester United and England player who remains the most expensive player in the history of British football. But I believe he was a better player than Robson. “ 

While this is not exactly an “official” poll, it can be considered the closest anyone has come to defining the Greatest Ever Spurs Team considering the depth and breadth of the vote from former managers, former players, Spurs fans in the media and other Spurs fans from all walks of life.

Former captain Steve Perryman commented:  “I'm very honoured to be selected in such a talented team of both , very special players and exceptional people that teammates/ supporters alike could relate to. 
 
“Interesting to note that I'm one of three home grown players in this team which is why I'm always banging on about our club not undervaluing talent brought through their own system. 
 
“My thoughts are with the amazing Dave Mackay (and his Family) as he would be the only true leader capable of driving this wonderful team.”
 
 

THE SPURS DREAM TEAM 

The Greatest Team of all time, lining up in a 4-4-2 formation

 
pastedGraphic.png

Pat Jennings        274 votes 

Steve Perryman   248

Mike England      141

Ledley King         252

Cyril Knowles      136

Dave Mackay       218

Paul Gascoigne    247

Glenn Hoddle       308

Ossie Ardiles        193

Jimmy Greaves     229