In recent years, Tottenham Hotspur (Spurs) have enjoyed very little success. The club’s last trophy came in the 2007/08 season in the form of the League Cup.
Despite this lack of triumph in the last decade, the club remains one of the most successful and well-supported teams in England.
Today we will be taking you on a journey through the North London-based club’s history, with the 25 Best Tottenham Hotspur players of all time revealed. Come on you Spurs!
25. Danny Blanchflower
We start our list by going back to the glory days of Tottenham Hotspur and the domestic double-winning side from the 1960-61 season. Northern Ireland international Danny Blanchflower was the captain of the great Spurs side and was an integral part of their triumph.
Blanchflower played for the club for 10 years between 1954-1964 and made over 300 appearances during this period, he also scored 15 goals during this time. Following his retirement, Blanchflower turned his hand to journalism and enjoyed another successful career.
24. Christian Eriksen
One of the silkiest midfielders to have ever played for the club, Danish legend Christian Eriksen takes 24th place on our list. Eriksen played for the club during a rather barren era in terms of success, had he helped the club to some silverware then he may have been higher on our list.
The Dane played for Tottenham for seven years and turned out 226 times for the club, he registered just over 50 goals during this period. Some of you may know Eriksen for the incident that occurred during Euro 2024, however, he has now fully recovered from his cardiac arrest and plays for Manchester United.
23. Luka Modric
In 23rd place is another quality midfielder; the Croatian legend Luka Modric is one of the most versatile and reliable central midfielders of his generation and has starred for both Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid.
Modric joined Spurs for a then club record fee of £16.5 Million in 2008 and went on to play 127 times for the club, scoring 13 goals. This form earnt him his move to Madrid, where he became possibly the greatest Midfielder in the world for a period.
Modric is still with Real Madrid and has played almost 300 games for the club.
22. Cyril Knowles
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Yorkshire-born; Cyril Knowles takes 22nd place on our list. The left-back was one of the key men for the club during the 1960s and 70s and is arguably the greatest full-back the club has ever had.
Knowles was regarded as one of the finest crossers of the ball in the world throughout his career, with him being able to pick out the striker from anywhere on the field. Knowles played over 400 games was Tottenham and is one of the team’s most loyal servants.
21. Mike England
For many years, Welsh defender Mike England was the youngest captain that his country has ever had (only surpassed by Aaron Ramsey) and his performances for Spurs were what earnt him this honor.
Playing a central defender, England helped lead Tottenham Hotspur to four major trophies during his time at White Hart Lane. The most legendary of these is the 1972 UEFA Cup, which remains the greatest European honor the club has in its trophy cabinet.
England played exactly 300 games for Spurs and scored 14 goals.
20. Dave Mackay
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A commanding presence in the heart of the Tottenham defense throughout their successful period in the 1960s, Dave Mackay is one of the iconic faces of this era. Mackay played alongside Danny Blanchflower in the Spurs defense and the two became legends in their own rights.
Mackay played 268 times for the club, with his status earning him a position in both the English and Scottish Soccer hall of fames. He will always be fondly remembered as one of the custodians of a great era for the club.
19. Martin Chivers
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Initially brought in as a backup to the club’s record goal scorer Jimmy Greaves, Martin Chivers did not really get the chance to show what he could do until Greaves departed the club. Soon enough though, Chivers got his chance and took it with both hands.
Although he was often seen as an unreliable source of goals (he would often hit desolate patches), he still managed to score over 100 for Spurs in 268 appearances. This goal-scoring record helped to justify the hefty £125,000 transfer he commanded in 1968.
18. Cliff Jones
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Before there was Gareth Bale, there was Cliff Jones. The Welsh winger was the original version of the eclectic winger, that also chipped in with a healthy collection of goals. Jones played for Spurs between 1958 and 1968 and scored 135 goals in over 300 appearances.
Jones was renowned for his ability to run at defenders and beat them with ease, often resulting in a goal. The Welshman was another key component of the 1960-61 double-winning team.
17. Chris Waddle
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In his prime, the 17th-placed man was one of the best-attacking midfielders in the world and held the nickname ‘Magic Chris’ throughout his career. When Waddle eventually left the club, he became the third most expensive player in history at the time.
Waddle was known for his range of passing and excellent ability to read the game, this ability allowed Waddle to continue playing into his 50s with a series of English non-League sides. Waddle eventually retired completely in 2014 after a short spell at semi-pro level side Hallam.
16. Rafael Van der Vaart
Yet another player that could have been higher in this list had his talent aided Tottenham Hotspur in their long quest for silverware, Rafael Van der Vaart was an excellent attacking midfielder.
Van der Vaart was brought in for a raltively small transfer fee in 2010 after an alleged move to Bayern Munich fell through. During his time at the club, the Dutch midfielder made 63 appearances and contributed an impressive 24 goals in this time, including some superb long-range strikes that he became well known for.
15. Heung-Min Son
One of the current crop of top-quality players that play for Tottenham Hotspur, South Korean winger Heung-Min Son is already a Spurs legend that could well move higher in this list if he can help deliver some success to North London.
Son joined from German club Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and has since made over 200 appearances for Spurs and has thus far notched a total of 93 goals, no doubt he will soon reach the ‘100 club’ for the club.
14. Jan Vertonghen
One of the great captains of the modern era, Jan Vertonghen takes 14th place. The Belgian defender is known for his calmness on the ball and ability to play across the defensive line, this made him a valuable asset for many years.
Yet again, it is a shame that a player of Vertonghen’s class could not help in delivering any trophies to the club before leaving for Benfica in 2024. Whilst at Tottenham, he made a total of 232 appearances and scored 6 goals.
13. Jermain Defoe
A fan favorite player for many fans across England, Jermaine Defoe became synonymous with the late 2000s era of the Premier League. A journeyman striker for much of his career, Defoe spent three separate spells with Tottenham (2004-08, 2009-14, and a loan spell in 2014).
It was in the first two stints at White Hart Lane that his legend was born though, with him just missing out on 100 goals for the club. Despite his small stature, Defoe was an excellent goal scorer and is regarded as a ‘cult hero’.
12. David Ginola
One of the most important players to have started for the club in the 1990’s, Frenchman David Ginola was as much known for his good looks as he was his performances on the field. His handsomeness is not why he is loved by Spurs fans though, with him making 100 appearances in three years with the club.
The 1998-99 season was Ginola’s best in a Spurs shirt, with him being a vital cog in the League Cup winning campaign. This would be the only domestic trophy not won by Manchester United that season.
11. Ricky Villa
After impressing for Argentina at the 1978 World Cup, Ricky Villa arrived at White Hart Lane with much expected of him and his compatriot Ossie Ardiles. Villa lived up to the hopes of the fans and became a key player for the team for five years, before joining Fort Lauderdale Strikers in 1983.
Villa is best remembered for scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup Final against Manchester City, which also won the Wembley Stadium ‘Goal of the Century’.
10. Teddy Sheringham
As we reach the top 10 in our list, one of the most prolific goal-getters of the 1990s takes the 10th spot. Teddy Sheringham was known for his excellent abilities as a poacher, with him widely regarded as a ‘fox in the box’ style striker.
Sheringham joined Spurs from Nottingham Forest in 1992 and spent five brilliant years with the club before moving to Manchester United in 1997 (he is also loved there). Whilst with Tottenham though, Sheringham scored 75 goals in 166 games for the club.
9. Ossie Ardiles
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Alongside Ricky Villa, Ossie Ardiles joined Spurs after an impressive 1978 World Cup campaign with Argentina. Ardiles is widely regarded as one of the best value for money transfers in the history of the club, joining for just £350,000 as a World Cup winner.
Ardiles went on to play for Tottenham for a decade and made nearly 250 appearances for the club in the heart of their midfield. Alongside Villa and Glenn Hoddle, Ardiles formed part of the greatest Spurs midfield trio ever.
8. Harry Kane
Quite possibly the player most readers will be most familiar with on our list, Harry Kane is quickly on his way to moving higher in this list and has been the greatest goal scorer in English Soccer for the past few years.
Kane is a product of the Spurs youth academy (something fans are very proud of) and despite never lifting a trophy with the club, Kane has remained loyal. Surely there must be some success on the horizon for the man with 187 Spurs goals to his name at time of writing.
7. Graham Roberts
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A player that joined the club from the depths of non-league, Gareth Roberts is one of the best signings that Tottenham have ever made. Plying his trade for Weymouth he was picked up by scouts that recognized his ability, convincing the club to take a gamble and bring him in for the 1980-81 season.
In the end, Roberts proved himself an excellent addition to the team’s defense and made 209 appearances in six years with the club. Roberts was a vital cog in the FA Cup and UEFA Cup winning sides of the 1980s.
6. Gareth Bale
Well, this one needs no introduction; the great Welshman Gareth Bale takes 6th place in our list. Bale graduated from the Southampton academy before moving to Tottenham in 2007, starting out as left back his attacking ability soon got noticed and he was moved further up the field to play as a winger.
There was no looking back for Bale, who scored 42 goals in his first stint with the club that lasted six years. After many years with Real Madrid, Bale returned to Spurs on loan in 2024 and scored a further 11 times in 20 appearances.
5. Jurgen Klinsmann
Considering he only spent one season with the club in the mid-1990’s, German legend Jurgen Klinsmann take 5th. Klinsmann was already in his prime when he joined the club from Monaco and scored an impressive 20 goals in the 1995-95 season, averaging a goal every two games.
Klinsmann later moved to Bayern Munich.
4. Glenn Hoddle
Another product of the Tottenham youth academy, Glenn Hoddle is one of the best English midfielders of his era. As was mentioned earlier, Hoddle and his Argentinian teammates Villa and Ardiles formed a legendary trio that delivered a number of trophies to North London.
Hoddle possessed an immense passing ability and control of the ball that also saw him star for the England national team and be inducted into the England ‘Hall of Fame’ in 2007.
Hoddle also managed the club between 2001 and 2003.
3. Paul Gascoigne
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One of the greatest English players of all time, the great Paul Gascoigne (also known as ‘Gazza’) represent the club for some time during his prime years in the 1980’s and 90’s. I never had the pleasure of seeing Gazza play, but if the reports and footage are to be believed then he truly was one of the best ever.
Gascoigne played for Spurs between 1988 and 1992 and despite only scoring 19 goals, he dazzled with his fancy footwork and unrivalled dribbling ability.
Gascoigne is a man loved across England and a player I wish I could have seen play.
2. Ray Clemence
The greatest goalkeeper to play for the club, Ray Clemence had already established himself at the top of Liverpool in the 1980s before joining Tottenham in 1981. Clemence was known for his longevity and is one of less than 40 players to have played over 1000 professional games in England.
Clemence is one of the few players to have won everything available to him domestically for both Liverpool and Tottenham. He was vital in the UEFA Cup and FA Cup wins in the 1980s.
1. Jimmy Greaves
There could only ever be one man at the top of this list, the great Jimmy Greaves is the greatest goal scorer in the history of Tottenham Hotspur and is adored by fans around the globe. Greaves spent nine years with the club, making 321 appearances in this lengthy spell at White Hart Lane.
In terms of his goal-scoring record, Greaves has 220 Spurs goals to his name. This is a record that has stood since 1970, but Harry Kane is closing in fast on the great man.
Did we get our list right? Or would you have moved the order around and included some other club legends?
