Ahead of their FA Cup tie this weekend, we pick an XI featuring players who have featured for both Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa.
GK: Brad Friedel
After a lengthy and successful spell with Blackburn Rovers, Friedel made the move to Aston Villa at the age of 37. The American stopper would go on to break the record for most consecutive Premier League appearances, before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2011.
Friedel would continue his remarkable run of games until the arrival of Hugo Lloris saw him drop down the pecking order.
RB: Kyle Walker
Walker joined Spurs from Sheffield United in a deal that also brought Kyle Naughton to White Hart Lane. The young full-back would be immediately sent back on loan to the Blades before further loan spells at Queens Park Rangers and Aston Villa.
Since returning from Villa Park, Walker continued to improve and has earned a regular starting place for both club and country.
CB: Colin Calderwood
Following an eight year stint at Swindon Town, Calderwood stepped up to English football’s top flight for the first time in his career by signing for Ossie Ardiles at Tottenham.
The Scottish international became a solid presence in the Spurs back four, including a partnership with Sol Campbell. Unfortunately, his brief time at Aston Villa was hindered by a string of injuries.
LB: Luke Young
Young progressed through the Tottenham youth system and made his senior debut against West Ham United at the age of 19. After failing to nail down a place in the Spurs side, he moved to Charlton Athletic where he spent the majority of his playing career.
In 2008, Young joned Villa and enjoyed a promising start, but soon found it difficult following Martin O’Neill’s decision to drop him for Carlos Cuellar.
RM: Danny Blanchflower
One of the most important players in Tottenham’s history, Blanchard led the club to a League and FA Cup double in 1961.
He would go on to collect another FA Cup win and a European Cup Winners’ Cup before calling time on his illustrious playing career in 1964. He had joined Spurs from Villa where he helped the club reach the 1956 semi-final.
LM: David Ginola
On the other wing is another iconic Tottenham man. Ginola brought a flair and excitement to White Hart Lane, that coupled with the memorable 1999 League Cup win makes him a modern day Spurs legend.
The Frenchman would leave for Aston Villa in 2000, where he struggled to recapture the magic that made him such a beloved figure at Tottenham.
CM: Jermaine Jenas
With just three appearances for Villa, Jenas might be the most tenuous name in this team. The England international spent an injury-ridden year at the club, in which he only managed 108 minutes of football.
However, Jenas’s time at Spurs was more memorable and included an important contribution to the club’s 2008 League Cup win. Jenas scored in both legs of the semi-final victory over Arsenal, before assisting Jonathan Woodgate’s 94th-minute winner in the final against Chelsea.
CM: Steve Hodge
Many Villa supporters still hold a grudge against Hodge. In the middle of the club’s relegation scrap, the central midfielder forced a mid-season move to Tottenham.
To make matters worse he then scored a brace on his return to Villa, only a few months later. Hodge will have friendlier memories of Spurs, where he was a substitute in their 1987 FA Cup final appearance.
ST: Robbie Keane
Robbie Keane enjoyed two fruitful spells at White Hart Lane, notching up an impressive tally of over 100 goals for the club.
His brief loan spell with Villa will be best remembered for his brace in the dramatic 3-2 win over his former club Wolverhampton Wanderers.
ST: Darren Bent
Bent joined Tottenham from Charlton for a club-record fee in 2007. The forward would be the club’s top scorer during the 2008/9 season, but a shocking miss against Portsmouth and Harry Redknapp’s post-match comments suggested all was not well.
After a successful move to Sunderland, Aston Villa made Bent their club-record signing in a desperate bid to ward off relegation. The move paid off and the London-born striker fired nine goals to lead the club to a ninth-place finish. Injuries hampered the rest of Bent’s Villa career and he would mainly play second-string to Christian Benteke.
ST: Peter Crouch
Crouch spent time in the Tottenham youth academy, but would have to wait nine years for his first senior appearance for the club. In that time, he spent two uneventful seasons at Aston Villa, only managing six goals in 37 appearances.
His two-year spell back with Spurs did provide some moments to cherish, including a last gasp winner against Manchester City and a decisive goal against AC Milan in the Champions League.
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