Spurs have had a plethora of overseas talent representing their club in the PL era.
Gent’s Kalifa Coulibaly in action with Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld
Down at White Hart Lane, the Tottenham Hotspur fans love a foreign export. Be it from Ricky Villa and Ossie Ardiles in days gone by to the likes of Christian Eriksen and Mousa Dembele in today’s squad, the Spurs fans love it when a scouting trip unveils a star of the future at the club.
Since the vast majority of Spurs’ overseas idols have arrived in the Premier League era – we’re not counting Wales, Scotland, or Ireland, both Republic and Northern – this team will be restricted to those signed in the PL era only, so here’s Tottenham’s Premier League foreign XI.
Goalkeeper – Hugo Lloris
The other notable overseas goalkeeper to represent Tottenham in the Premier League era is Heurelho Gomes, and it’s fair to say that Lloris is light years ahead of Gomes. The France international captain arrived from Lyon in 2012 and has been a complete revelation for Spurs, to the point he is seen as one of the best goalkeepers in world football today. Given that Lloris is still only 30 – quite a young age for a goalkeeper – he could still give a side he’s made over 200 appearances for a lot more in years to come.
Right back – Vedran Corluka
After signing from Manchester City in 2008, Corluka became a reliable and dependent full back for Spurs, and a vital cog in Harry Redknapp’s then side. A strong presence in the air and with a useful cross on him, the Croatia international was a sturdy overlapping right back for Tottenham, and would make 109 appearances for Spurs, scoring just once. These days, Corluka is plying his trade in Russia with Lokomotiv Moscow, and the 31-year-old is a mainstay in their side.
Tottenham’s Jan Vertonghen in action
Centre back – Jan Vertonghen
Younes Kaboul can consider himself unfortunate to miss out, but Vertonghen is simply on a different level. One of the most under-appreciated centre backs in the Premier League today, how Vertonghen is still at Spurs is a bit of a mystery, as his performances in recent seasons have bordered on world class. Ever since arriving from Ajax in 2012, the Belgium international has been rock solid at the heart of Spurs’ defence, while epitomising the modern day centre back in style with speed and a vast array of passing.
Centre back – Toby Alderweireld
You can’t have one without the other, and the partnership with Alderweireld and Vertonghen has not only been one of the best defensive partnership duos this decade in the Premier League, but it has been crucial to Mauricio Pochettino’s side as a whole. The Belgium international signed from Athletico Madrid in 2015, and – much like his defensive partner – has been a defensive titan for Spurs. The two have a kind of telepathy which was born from their days together at Ajax, and has since extended to the Belgium national side as well as Spurs, which has contributed massively to Spurs having one of the best defences in England.
Tottenham’s Benoit Assou Ekotto in action
Left back – Benoit Assou-Ekotto
The Cameroon international made a grand total of 200 appearances for Spurs in the seven years he spent there after signing from Lens in 2006, and much like Corluka, was an underrated component of a very good Tottenham side. With an excellent cross on him and pace to burn, Assou-Ekotto was very useful at both ends of the pitch, and still plays today for Metz.
Right midfield – Rafael van der Vaart
After arriving from Real Madrid in 2010, a few Spurs fans were concerned that despite the comparatively cheap outlay of £8m, as reports The Guardian, there must be a reason why Los Blancos were prepared to let go a player who featured fairly prominently for them the season before for so little. Their fears were unfounded, as van der Vaart was an outstanding signing from Redknapp, and would go on to score 28 goals in 77 games in all competitions. The versatile Holland international, who could play down both wings and through the middle, added a touch of magic to the Tottenham side, and while van der Vaart left for Hamburg in 2012, he left with Spurs fans still adoring him.
Tottenham’s Luka Modric (L) and AC Milan’s Alexandre Pato
Central midfield – Luka Modric
An absolute genius and today one of the best central midfielders in world football with Real Madrid, Modric was simply outstanding with Spurs during his time at White Hart Lane. While the £16.5m price tag in 2008 was a joint club record transfer, as reports BBC Sport, that money paid to Dinamo Zagreb was a bargain in every sense of the word, as while Modric doesn’t – and didn’t – score many goals from midfield, his range of passing was something out of this world. A tough tackler as well when required, it was of little surprise when a club of Real’s stature came calling in 2012, and he remains a prominent piece in the Spanish giant’s puzzle.
Central midfield – Steffan Freund
The true definition of a ‘heart on your sleeve’ player, and Freund remains one of Tottenham’s best ever players. The former Germany international, who had won the European Championships with his nation prior to moving to Spurs in 1998, didn’t score a single goal at White Hart Lane, but was that one player that all teams need in front of the back four, and operated with first class efficiency. Good on the ball, brilliant in the tackle, and more committed than just about anyone, it was easy to see why Spurs fans loved their German maestro so much.
David Ginola Spurs 2
Left midfield – David Ginola
A true entertainer of the game, Ginola was a wing wizard for Spurs in his three year spell at White Hart Lane, and someone worthy of the phrase ‘worth the admission fee alone’. The former France international arrived in 1997 from Newcastle United, and was truly sensational down the left flank, with outrageous trickery, a pinpoint cross, and the ability to score a staggeringly good goal when required too. While his stay was only brief at Tottenham, Ginola left as an icon when he departed for Aston Villa in 2000.
Striker – Jurgen Klinsmann
One of Germany’s best ever strikers also happens to be one of Tottenham’s best, and Klinsmann is still celebrated as a legend at White Hart Lane today. The striker first arrived at Spurs in 1994 from AS Monaco, and while Klinsmann only stayed one season in England, he hit a whopping 21 goals in 41 Premier League outings, endearing himself to Spurs fans with a series of world class performances. His form prompted Bayern Munich to make a move for him in 1995, though Klinsmann returned to Spurs at the end of his career for a loan spell, where he scored nine goals in 15 league appearances, steering the club away from relegation danger.
Striker – Dimitar Berbatov
Berbatov’s tenure at White Hart Lane may have ended in disappointment for Spurs fans when the former Bulgaria international left for Manchester United in a £30.75m fee, according to BBC Sport, but the striker was an absolute magician and one of the classiest players ever to grace the Premier League. Spurs signed the striker from Bayer Leverkusen in 2006, and Berbatov would go on to score 46 goals in 102 appearances for Tottenham, endearing himself to many a neutral for his carefree attitude to the game. His relationship with Spurs soured in the manner of his 2008 switch to United, but as a striker, he was simply excellent.
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