The History and Legacy of Tottenham Hotspur

Established in 1882 by members of the Hotspur cricket club in Tottenham, it was referred to as Tottenham Hotspur from 1884 onwards.

The ‘Hotspur’ name was inspired by 14th century knight Henry Percy, who was a decorated soldier in fights with Scottish troops north of the border. He was nicknamed ‘Henry Hot Spur’ by his enemies in a begrudging mark of respect and tribute to his speed in advance and readiness to attack.

Tottenham’s original owners decided to honour the soldier, who once owned land in Northumberland Park. This was the same area in which the team played, hence the name Tottenham Hotspur.

The club turned professional in 1895, became a limited company in 1898 and they haven’t looked back since, accumulating trophies, fielding outstanding players and appointing renowned managers.

Tottenham Hotspur Throughout The Years

The club was admitted to Division One of the Southern League — the third tier back then — in the summer of 1896 after football chiefs recognised the levels of interest from the surrounding community.

Even before the club had turned professional they were churning out impressive attendances in friendlies and other unofficial matches at the time.

In 1899, they landed on a market garden as a new site for the team. Originally known as Gulpin Park, it gradually became referred to as White Hart Lane – and a significant chapter of Tottenham history was born

FA Cup Success, promotions and relegation

It did not take long for the club to capture its first trophy. Less than 20 years after forming Tottenham Hotspur won the FA Cup in 1901 in what was a replay of the final with Sheffield United (the first game had finished 2-2).

The Lilywhites came out 3-1 winners thanks to goals from John Cameron, Tom Smith and Sandy Brown. By scoring in the final, Brown ensured he went down in history as one of only 12 players to have scored in every round of the competition in the same year. The most recent player to achieve that feat was Peter Osgood, of London rivals Chelsea, back in 1970.

A period of sustained success followed, with election to the Second Division in 1908 followed by immediate promotion to the First Division in 1909. Legendary manager Peter McWilliam appointed in 1912.

The Lilywhites finished bottom of the league at the outbreak of the First World War and were relegated before football was cancelled throughout the conflict. However, they bounced straight back up at the first time of asking in 1920, amassing 70 points in Division Two – a record at the time.

They claimed their second FA Cup triumph in 1921 with a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge thanks to a goal by three-time England international Jimmy Dimmock.

It was to be a crowning moment for McWilliam, who became the first man to win the competition as a player and a manager. It was also a significant moment in Tottenham badge history – the famous Spurs cockerel was added to the emblem in advance of the final and has stayed there ever since.

Thirty Years Of Yo-yoing

Between 1921 and 1951, the club frequented the Second Division more often than the First Division.

However, a significant piece of architecture was completed in 1934 – the building of the East Stand reached its conclusion, increasing the stadium’s capacity and enhancing the club’s money-making capability.

Another highlight came in 1938 when, in the sixth round of the FA Cup with Sunderland, a crowd record of 75,038 was in attendance.

While the club’s popularity was ever on the rise, Tottenham’s lofty ambitions were failing to match the hype.

Football League Champions

In 1949 Tottenham appointed Arthur Rowe as manager. Rowe became famous for implementing the ‘push-and-run’ strategy, which was a departure from the traditional approach to football at the time.

Instead of focusing on individual skill and long passes, Rowe instructed that players constantly move and interchange positions, making it difficult for the opposition to mark them effectively. The overarching principle was to always have players available for a pass.

The new style worked. After gaining promotion to the First Division in 1950, the long wait for glory came to an end a year later with Tottenham going on to become the first team to win back-to-back titles in the post-war period.

The good times, and exciting Rowe-inspired football, was curtailed in 1955 when he was forced to resign due to ill health.

The Glory, Glory Years

The game-changing foundations laid by Rowe helped usher in a period of unprecedented success a decade later.

In 1961, Tottenham became the first club to complete the league and cup double since Aston Villa in 1897.

Led by manager Bill Nicholson, the team managed to score 115 goals throughout the league campaign with 28 goals coming from striker Bobby Smith, 22 goals from inside forward Les Allen and 15 goals from Cliff Jones on the right wing.

The following year Spurs won the FA Cup once more and, in 1963, won the European Cup-Winners' Cup with the legendary Jimmy Greaves chalking up 37 goals in a single season – a record for Spurs at the time.

They won a fifth FA Cup in 1967 and the successes would continue into the early portion of the next decade thanks, in no small part, to the heroic efforts of Greaves up front.

In 1971, Tottenham won the League Cup while a UEFA Cup triumph followed a year later. Their 1973 League Cup win meant they became the first club to win the trophy twice.

100 Years And Counting

The club’s centenary year, 1982, was a massive one on and off the pitch.

White Hart Lane’s West Stand was opened and the club secured a seventh FA Cup after defeating Queens Park Rangers in the final after a replay.

The new stand reflected the new financial thinking behind the club, which would become the first football team to list on the London Stock Exchange in 1983.

A year later Spurs won the UEFA Cup for a second time with a 4-3 victory over Belgian side Anderlecht on penalties in the showpiece.

The Premier League Era

In 1992, Tottenham became one of the founding members of the Premier League. They are one of only seven teams to never have been relegated from the division, Indeed, you have to go back to 1978/79 to find the last time the North London outfit slipped down a league.

While they are yet to lift the trophy they have enjoyed some incredible success – most notably in regularly challenging for the top four, reaching the Champions League final and the incredible individual feats of striker Harry Kane.

Legendary Players and Managers

Players

Jimmy Greaves

The late, great Jimmy Greaves was a phenomenon.

A legendary English footballer known for his exceptional goalscoring abilities, Greaves is regarded as one of the greatest strikers to ever play the game.

Signed from AC Milan in 1961, he scored 220 goals in 321 appearances for the Lilywhites. He has 44 goals for England, which makes him the fifth-highest goalscorer of all-time for the Three Lions, and he is highest goalscorer in the history of English top-flight football with 357 goals garnered across spells with Chelsea and West Ham.

Only Harry Kane (280) has scored more goals for Tottenham than Greaves (266).

Harry Kane

England captain Kane is the all-time leading scorer for Tottenham and proved incredibly consistent over a sustained period.

Renowned for some of the truest ball-striking and finishing the country has ever seen, Kane is a bonafide club legend who rose from the Spurs youth ranks to become the second highest goalscorer in Premier League history.

After properly breaking into the Tottenham senior side in 2014/15, Kane scored at least 24 goals in all competitions for nine straight seasons before departing for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

Son Heung-min

Signed from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, Son Heung-min is the current club captain and the club’s fifth-highest goalscorer with 162 ahead of the 2024/25 season. He is also credited as the club’s highest all-time assist maker.

Son scored 23 goals in the 2021/22 season to share the top flight Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah of Liverpool, becoming the first Asian to win the award in the process. He is also the first Asian footballer to score 100 or more goals in the Premier League.

The South Korea international has a blistering turn of foot and the finishing ability to match. Indeed, he was honoured with the Puskas Award – a title to recognise the best goal in football over the course of a season – in 2020 after producing a sensational solo effort against Burnley that started outside his own box.

Managers

Bill Nicholson

Nicholson is widely regarded as the greatest name in Tottenham manager history, having spent 16 years at the helm of the club from 1958 to 1974.

Nicknamed ‘Mr Tottenham’, Nicholson was known for his tactical innovations and ability to develop young players into top talents. During this time, he led the team to its first league and cup double in the modern era, as well as another FA Cup win and two League Cups.

Keith Burkinshaw

Keith Burkinshaw managed Tottenham from 1976 to 1984 and is credited with revitalising the team during this period. Under his leadership the team won two FA Cups, one UEFA Cup and finished in the top four of the league for six consecutive seasons.

Burkinshaw's style of management was characterised by his shrewd transfer dealings and ability to build a balanced squad. He also implemented an attacking brand of football that captivated fans.

Mauricio Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino joined Tottenham from Southampton in 2014 and quickly established himself as an innovative and exciting manager with new ideas. He led the team to their first Champions League final in 2019 as well as consistently finishing in the top four of the Premier League.

Pochettino's intense and high-pressing style of play earned him praise from both fans and pundits. He also enjoyed a reputation for developing young players and nurturing a strong team spirit within the squad – overseeing an entertaining spell centred round players such as Kane, Son, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen.

Harry Redknapp

Harry Redknapp took over as Tottenham manager in 2008 and led the team to what was then their highest-ever finish in the Premier League (fourth) during his tenure. He also guided Tottenham to their first Champions League in 2010, a campaign which included a notable 3-1 win over reigning European champions Inter.

Known for his man-management skills and ability to get the best out of players, Redknapp used his canny transfer dealings and force of personality to drag the Lilywhites to consistent success. He also made some key signings including Gareth Bale, who became one of Tottenham's all-time greatest players under Redknapp's guidance.

Achievements

Tottenham are one of the clubs to have won the FA Cup on multiple occasions, and are regarded as one of the UK’s most successful teams

Football League Division One (2) – 1950/51, 1960/61
Football League Division Two (2) – 1919/20, 1949/50
FA Cup (8) – 1900/01, 1920/21, 1960/61, 1961/62, 1966/67, 1980/81, 1981/82, 1990/91
League Cup (4) – 1970/71, 1972/73, 1998/99, 2007/08
Community Shield (7) –** 1921, 1951, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1981, 1991
Sheriff of London Charity Shield (1) - 1902
UEFA Cup-Winners Cup (1) - 1962/63
UEFA Cup/Europa League (2) - 1971/72, 1983/84
Anglo-Italian League Cup (1) 1971

Biggest Transfers In Tottenham History

Tottenham’s transfer history stretches back decades. The club has always been known for its wheeling and dealing – from Redknapp leaning outside a car window to Nicholson bringing over Greaves from AC Milan in the early 60s.

Here are the top three:

Jimmy Greaves (AC Milan, £99,999)

The figure was kept under £100,000 to minimise any publicity – the cat was out of the bag soon enough though as Greaves became one of Tottenham’s greatest-ever players, finishing third in the 1963 Ballon d’Or, winning multiple trophies and being inducted into the English football hall of fame.

Gareth Bale (Southampton, £5 million)

At what proved an absolute snip, Redknapp signed Bale from Southampton as a left-back at first. Little did he know that the Welshman would blossom into one of the best attacking players in the world when moved further up-field. He left for Real Madrid in 2013 for a sum of £85 million, which was then a world record fee.

Luka Modric (Dinamo Zagreb £16.5 million)

After signing under the Tottenham reign of Juande Ramos, Modric blossomed into one of the best midfielders of all-time. His form for Tottenham was such that, like Bale, it attracted the advances of Real Madrid. Los Blancos signed the Croatian for £30 million; six Champions League wins later and he still plays for them today.

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