Following the recent emergence of Spurs youngster Harry Winks, we take a look at XI of the best Tottenham Hotspur academy graduates.
Having scored a goal on his full debut, alongside a number of impressive cameo performances, Harry Winks is the next young player on Spurs fans lips. The 20-year-old has been at White Hart Lane since the age of 16, and is a lifelong Tottenham fan.
He joins a long line of Tottenham academy graduates to impress in the first team. The current Spurs squad features the likes of Harry Kane, Josh Onomah, Danny Rose, Tom Carroll and Cameron Carter-Vickers, all products of the North London sides esteemed youth setup.
Look back a little further and you find even more star-studded names, such as Glenn Hoddle and Ledley King. Following Winks’ breakthrough, we have compiled a fantasy XI made up of some of the finest academy graduates in Tottenham history.
England legend Glenn Hoddle came through the academy at Spurs
Goalkeeper: Ian Walker
It is a toss up between Ian Walker and Tony Parks for the number one spot in this team. Walker played five times as many games for Spurs, but Parks will always be immortalised for his role in the 1984 UEFA Cup final.
Right-Back: Stephen Carr
A fan favourite and club captain at the time of his departure from White Hart Lane, make no mistake, Stephen Carr could play. A dependable full-back who was capable of scoring some sumptuous goals, it’s a sign of where Tottenham were in 2003/04 that the former Ireland international moved to Newcastle to ‘better’ his career.
Centre-Back: Ledley King
From a fan favourite to a genuine Spurs legend, Ledley King was one of the most naturally gifted defenders of his generation, and would have gone down as one of the finest were it not for injuries plaguing much of his career. He spent his entire career at the Lane, as well as winning 21 caps for England.
Centre-Back: Sol Campbell
Tottenham fans during Sol Campbell’s return to White Hart Lane
Blasphemy, perhaps, but whilst Spurs fans are entitled to hold a grudge against Sol Campbell for his transfer to Arsenal in 2001, it would be disingenuis to deny his ability and quality as a centre-back. Capped 73 times by England and a real titan at the back for both Spurs and Arsenal, Campbell made the PFA Team of the Year three times.
Left-Back: Danny Rose
One of only a couple of current Spurs players to make the XI, Danny Rose is arguably the best left-back in the Premier League right now. One could make a case for Rose being a graduate of the Leeds academy, rather than the Tottenham one, but having moved to Spurs at 16, he is still considered an academy product.
Right Wing: Andros Townsend
Andros Townsend’s career is currently threatening to stall at Crystal Palace under Alan Pardew, but the England international has shown at both Tottenham and Newcastle that he has the potential to be a very dangerous Premier League player. Aged 25, Townsend played 93 games for Spurs and has won 13 caps for England.
Central Midfield: Jamie Redknapp
Jamie Redknapp and Paddy McGuinness playing for England at Socceraid
Another naturally gifted footballer who had a career heavily disrupted by injuries, Jamie Redknapp came through the academy at Spurs but left at the age of 16 to play under his father Harry at Bournemouth. Both Harry and Jamie would one day return to the Lane, although not at the same time.
Central Midfield: Glenn Hoddle
Arguably the greatest player to have ever emerged from the youth setup at Tottenham, Glenn Hoddle is often regarded as one of the most technically gifted midfield players England has ever produced. He played more than 450 games for Spurs and won 53 caps for England, a figure many believe should have been much higher.
Central Midfield: Micky Hazard
Rounding off a very creative midfield trio, they may not offer much protection to the back four, but the opposition would do well to get the ball off them. Spurs favourite Micky Hazard is the last of the three. Often regarded as one of the most talented Englishmen never to win a cap for their country, Hazard was a mercurial talent and played more than 100 league games for Tottenham.
Left Wing: Nick Barmby
Hull-born former England international Nick Barmby is part of an exclusive group of players to have scored a Premier League goal for six different teams. Tottenham were the first, the club where Barmby learned his trade under Terry Venables. He went on to play for the likes of Liverpool, Everton and hometown club Hull City, as well as winning 23 caps for England.
Centre-Forward: Harry Kane
There are a couple of options up front, and one ought not forget that Peter Crouch scored 22 goals in 42 caps for England, although it’s also worth remembering that a 23-year-old Harry Kane has scored 20+ Premier League goals in consecutive seasons, whilst Crouch’s most impressive top flight campaign saw him bag 12.
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