15 ‘Most Talented’ Tottenham Players in Football History [Ranked]

Tottenham Hotspur are one of the biggest clubs in England, with eight FA Cups and two First Division titles. Trophies have been hard to come by in recent years, with their last taste of silverware in 2008. Despite this, the club have still had some star-studded players put on the Spurs shirt. This includes the likes of Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, who helped the club reach the 2019 Champions League final.

Paul Gascoigne, who is renowned as one of the most naturally gifted players that England has ever produced, also played for Spurs and was part of the 1991 FA Cup-winning team. Here is a closer look at the most talented players in Tottenham’s 142-year history.

Ranking factors

• Significant impact during their time at the club: Even if it was a short stint, they impressed supporters and fellow players with their talent.
• Memorable moments: Goals in big moments and matches.
• Overall career: Talented players who have enjoyed success not only at Tottenham.

15

Osvaldo Ardiles

Ozzie Ardiles is often referred to as the first cult hero of English football, but in later years he has been much more widely recognised for his achievements.

As well as being an FA Cup and UEFA Cup winner with Spurs, Ardiles was part of the Argentina side that won the 1978 World Cup, where he famously wore the No.1 shirt because all shirt numbers were decided in alphabetical order – with the exception of Diego Maradona.

Ardiles was thrice named in World Soccer’s World XI, inducted into Tottenham and English Football’s Halls of Fame, and in 2013 was issued a legends Golden Foot award, alongside Carlos Valderrama and Jean-Pierre Papin.

14

Dele Alli

Dele Alli played for Spurs for seven years between 2015 and 2022. He was one of the most talented players in the club’s history, driving the team forward as an attacking midfielder and enjoying his best years under the management of Mauricio Pochettino. Alli’s close control and clinical finishing, along with his impressive physical attributes, meant he was almost impossible to stop when he was on form.

He was named the PFA Young Player of the Year twice in a row in the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons. The latter saw Spurs finish on 86 points, seven points behind Chelsea. Alli left Tottenham in 2022, with 67 goals and 55 assists in 269 appearances. His decline in the last couple of years at the club was dramatic, but his performances in the mid-2010s are still remembered fondly by the club’s supporters.

13

Ledley King

Ledley King was an extremely underrated centre-back during his 13-year career at Spurs between 1999 and 2012. Injury issues undoubtedly plagued his time in North London, with knee problems a recurring theme. One of the most remarkable aspects of King’s career is that, for large parts, he didn’t train with the rest of the squad during the week due to injury, but then played the match at the weekend. In April 2012, former Spurs boss Harry Redknapp said:

King went on to make 323 appearances for Spurs, scoring 14 and registering eight assists. His greatest achievement was captaining the club to the League Cup title in 2008 – a game that saw him start alongside Jonathan Woodgate for the first time ever.

12

Robbie Keane

An underrated forward who could really do it all. Robbie Keane could stretch defences with movement and speed, or drop deep and create chances for those around him. There really wasn’t much the Irishman couldn’t do and his longevity in the game is a testament to his quality, officially retiring at the age of 38.

Keane was never a truly prolific goalscorer but notched at least ten during all six seasons of his first spell at Tottenham, while providing plenty of assists to the likes of Dimitar Berbatov and Jermain Defoe. Keane couldn’t quite recapture the magic after returning to Spurs following an ill-fated six months at Liverpool.

Nonetheless, he was a phenomenal forward on his day and an incredibly natural talent.

11

Moussa Dembele

Moussa Dembele was a memorable player, due to his ability to glide past opponents and keep possession in tight spaces. He signed for Spurs from Fulham in 2012 before spending seven years at the club. The Belgian made 249 appearances for the North London club, scoring 10 and registering 10 assists.

Injuries ultimately plagued Dembele, but when he was fit he was a joy to watch. Speaking about Dembele, former Tottenham teammate Jermain Jenas once said in May 2016:

10

Dimitar Berbatov

Dimitar Berbatov played two seasons for Tottenham between 2006 and 2008 and was the top scorer in both campaigns. The first season saw him score 23 goals and register 15 assists in all competitions, while the second saw the Bulgarian register 37 goal contributions in all competitions, including a penalty in the victorious 2008 League Cup final against Chelsea.

The Bulgarian was an exciting striker and was capable of moments of brilliance. His clinical finishing along with his hold-up play alongside his partner Robbie Keane meant he attracted significant Premier League transfer interest from elsewhere. In the summer of 2008, Sir Alex Ferguson signed Berbatov for just over £30 million, much to the dismay of Spurs fans.

9

Jurgen Klinsmann

Jurgen Klinsmann was one of the world’s top strikers and clinched the World Cup with Germany in 1990, as well as the European Championship six years later. Some time in between, the 1994-96 season to be exact, the legendary German forward spent a season at Tottenham Hotspur.

Klinsmann scored 30 goals across all competitions for the Lilywhites and was named the FWA Footballer of the Year – some turnaround from his initial arrival from Monaco for £2m, when the British press had initially vilified him as a diver.

So impressive was Klinsmann that Bayern Munich came calling and his first Spurs spell lasted just twelve months. He did return on loan, however, scoring nine goals in 15 games to turn Spurs’ 1997-98 season around after initially flirting with relegation.

8

Gary Lineker

Gary Lineker is an iconic figure within English football and enjoyed some his best years playing for Spurs. Lineker had established his scoring prowess in England with Leicester and Everton, while an incredible 1986 World Cup campaign earned him a move to Barcelona.

The striker returned home with Spurs three years later and went on to net 80 times in 138 appearances across all competitions, helping Spurs clinch the FA Cup in 1991, while 35 goals in the following season saw him named the FWA Footballer of the Year.

Lineker’s career achievements include a place in the PFA Team of the Century, a Golden Boot from the 1986 World Cup and an induction into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

7

Glenn Hoddle

Glenn Hoddle was one of the greatest players in Tottenham’s history. He played for the club between 1975 and 1987 before taking on the manager role for two years in 2001. The former English midfielder was known for his creativity, balance and passing vision. He also had an eye for goal, scoring 110 goals for Spurs in 490 appearances.

Hoddle was part of the famous Spurs squad that won back-to-back FA Cups in the early 1980s, along with the UEFA Cup in 1984. One of the standout moments for the silky Englishman was his match-winning penalty in the 1982 FA Cup final replay against Queens Park Rangers.

6

Paul Gascoigne

Paul Gascoigne or, as he is more commonly known, ‘Gazza’, remains a cult hero in England. He was an extremely naturally gifted attacking midfielder, who became a popular figure due to his performances for England, especially at major tournaments, including the 1990 World Cup, which saw the Three Lions lose on penalties to West Germany in the semi-finals.

He also enjoyed a successful domestic career, playing for the likes of Newcastle United and Spurs. Gascoigne won his only major trophy in England at Tottenham, beating Nottingham Forest in the 1991 FA Cup final and finishing as the competition’s top goalscorer with six, which included a 35-yard strike against North London rivals Arsenal in the semi-final.

5

David Ginola

David Ginola signed for Tottenham in July 1997. He had previously spent time at Brest, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle United. The French winger only spent three years at Spurs but became a fan favourite due to his flair on the pitch and extravagance off it.

In 127 appearances for Tottenham, he scored 22 and registered 21 assists, which included numerous moments of individual brilliance. This helped him win the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in the 1998/99 season – a campaign that saw Spurs lift the League Cup title. In December 2008, Ginola was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame.

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4

Jimmy Greaves

Jimmy Greaves is one of English football’s greatest strikers and was so prolific for Tottenham Hotspur that during the 1963 season he came third in the Ballon d’Or, only bettered by legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin and AC Milan’s Gianni Rivera.

Greaves was a deadly poacher blessed with exceptional pace – a combination which saw him net 268 goals in 381 appearances for the North London club, as well as 44 goals in 57 appearances for England. In fact, had it not been for a nasty injury in the Group Stages of the 1966 World Cup, he would have almost definitely started in the final for the Three Lions over eventual hat-trick hero Geoff Hurst.

Greaves fired Spurs to two FA Cups and a European Cup Winners’ Cup, and was the First Division’s top scorer in six separate campaigns.

3

Luka Modric

To become a Ballon d’Or winner, you’ve got to be somewhat talented. Luka Modric falls into that category, having won the award in 2018 following a Champions League triumph with Real Madrid and a second-place finish at the World Cup with Croatia.

The graceful midfielder played for Spurs for four years between 2008 and 2012, winning the club’s Player of the Year award in 2011. Despite never winning silverware for the North London club, Modric established himself as one of the best players in the Premier League during his three-year stint. His performances for Tottenham earned him a £30 million move to Real Madrid in August 2012 following a year of speculation that saw him nearly move to Chelsea.

2

Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale signed for Spurs in 2007, and it took a while for him to fully announce himself as one of the best wingers in the Premier League. After struggling to find a position that suited him, Harry Redknapp played Bale as a right-winger in the 2009/10 season, transforming his output and becoming the club’s Young Player of the Year.

He won this award in two of the next three seasons, including the 2012/13 campaign, which saw him also named as the PFA Players’ Player of the Year. He scored 26 goals and registered 10 assists during this season, dazzling opponents with his powerful left-footed shot. Eventually, the Welsh winger signed for Madrid in September 2013, but returned to the club for a brief stint during the 2020/21 campaign. He ended his Spurs career with an impressive 71 goals and 53 assists in 237 appearances.

1

Harry Kane

Harry Kane had to be number one on this list. The English striker is Tottenham and England’s all-time top goalscorer, with just under 400 goals for the Lilywhites and the Three Lions, and is second on the Premier League’s goalscorer list too. He had to bide his time for regular minutes at Spurs, going on loan to Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich City and Leicester City before establishing himself as the main man at Spurs in the 2014/15 season.

Kane scored a remarkable 280 goals and registered 61 assists in 435 appearances for Tottenham before making the switch to Bayern Munich. Despite not lifting any silverware for the North London club, he won a number of individual awards, including the club’s Player of the Year award and the Premier League Golden Boot three times each.

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Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, Tottenham Hotspur, ESPN and The Independent – correct as of 11/03/25.