This is our guide to all things Tottenham Hotspur. This article contains everything that you need to know about the club, from its history and famous players, to statistics and rivalries. Once you’ve read this you’ll be a Spurs expert and here at Sportslens you can also find regular Tottenham Hotspur news.
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Tottenham Hotspur Logo & History
Tottenham Hotspur were founded in 1882, by a group of eleven schoolboys led by Bobby Buckle. They were already members of the Hotspur Cricket Club and formed Hotspur Football Club to play in the winter months. The name ‘Hotspur’ came from the knight Sir Henry Percy, nicknamed ‘Harry Hotspur’, whose descendants owned land in the Tottenham area.
In 1884 the name was changed to Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. It wasn’t until 1921 that the Tottenham Hotspur badge featured a cockerel. Originally they had spurs on their logo, which referred to how Sir Henry Percy used his spurs to make his horse go faster as he rode into battle and was how he earned his nickname. Spurs are also associated with fighting cocks and over time a cockerel sat on a ball, became the club’s emblem.
Tottenham Hotspur Kit
Tottenham Hotspur experimented with various different colours and designs of kit until 1989-99, when they switched and settled to a kit comprising of white shirts and navy blue shorts. While the Tottenham Hotspur shirt for home games has remained consistent, the club have switched between having white and navy socks and in European games, they traditionally wear an all-white kit.
The Tottenham Hotspur away kit is traditionally blue, while yellow is also a colour that has frequently been used. However, in recent years the club have experimented with a wide range of colours.
Club Honours
- Premier League/English Football Championship – 2 times: 1950-51, 1960-61
- Championship/Second Division – 2 times: 1919-20, 1949-50
- FA Cup – 8 times: 1900-01, 1920-21, 1960-61, 1961-62, 1966-67, 1980-81, 1981-82, 1990-91
- EFL Cup/League Cup – 4 times: 1970-71, 1972-73, 1998-99, 2007-08
- FA Community Shield/FA Charity Shield: 7 times: 1921, 1951, 1961, 1962, 1967. 1981, 1991
- UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup – 1 time: 1962-63
- UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup – 2 times: 1971-72, 1983-84
Tottenham Hotspur were the first team to win the double of the Division One title and the FA Cup in the 20th century, when they won both trophies in the 1960/61 season. Two years later they became the first English team to win a European trophy, when they lifted the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1962-63.
The trophy that they have won the most often is the FA Cup, with Spurs taking home the trophy on eight occasions. In recent years trophies have been scarce, but Tottenham Hotspur have become regulars in the Champions League, reaching the final in 2018-19.
Latest Tottenham Hotspur Betting Odds
If you want to place a Tottenham Hotspur bet this season, then this is the section for you. Below are all the odds for Spurs to win the various competitions that they’re involved in.
| Competition | Best Tottenham Hotspur Odds | Bookmaker |
| Premier League | 50/1 | SBK |
| FA Cup | 14/1 | QuinnBet |
Tottenham Squad
There are some very talented players in the current Tottenham Hotspur squad. We’re going to run through the squad by position, while also taking a look as some of the legends that have played for the club in the past.
Tottenham Goalkeeper Options
Some fine goalkeepers have graced White Hart Lane, including Ted Ditchburn, Bill Brown, Pat Jennings, Ray Clemence, Erik Thorstvedt and Paul Robinson. Here are the current contenders for the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper shirt.
- 1. Hugo Lloris (France)
- 20. Fraser Forster (England)
- 40. Brandon Austin (England)
Tottenham Defenders
Top teams are built upon top defenders. Amongst the defenders to have shone for Spurs are Alf Ramsey, Maurice Norman, Cyril Knowles, Mike England, Phil Beal, Chris Hughton, Gary Mabbutt, Ledley King, Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld. Here are the current Tottenham Hotspur defenders.
- 2. Matt Doherty (Republic of Ireland)
- 6. Davinson Sanchez (Colombia)
- 12. Emerson Royal (Brazil)
- 14. Ivan Perisic (Croatia)
- 15. Eric Dier (England)
- 17. Cristian Romero (Argentina)
- 19. Ryan Sessegnon (England)
- 24. Djed Spence (England)
- 25. Japhet Tanganga (England)
- 33. Ben Davies (Wales)
- 34. Clement Lenglet (France)
Tottenham Midfielders
Over the years some magnificent midfielders have played for the Tottenham Hotspur team. Legendary figures include Ron Burgess, Danny Blanchflower, Dave Mackay, John White, Alan Mullery, Martin Peters, Steve Perryman, Ossie Ardiles, Glenn Hoddle, Chris Waddle, Paul Gascoigne, Darren Anderton, David Ginola, Mousa Dembele and Christian Eriksen. Here are the modern day midfielders at Tottenham Hotspur.
- 4. Oliver Skipp (England)
- 5. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Denmark)
- 11. Bryan Gil (Spain)
- 29. Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal)
- 30. Rodrigo Bentancur (Uruguay)
- 38. Yves Bissouma (Mali)
- 42. Harvey White (England)
Tottenham Strikers
Some of the deadliest sharpshooters in football have played for Tottenham Hotspur. These include Bobby Smith, Cliff Jones, Jimmy Greaves, Alan Gilzean, Martin Chivers, Steve Archibald, Clive Allen, Gary Lineker, Teddy Sheringham, Jurgen Klinsmann, Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe, Dimitar Berbatov and Gareth Bale. Here are the current Spurs strikers.
- 7. Heung-Min Son (South Korea)
- 9. Richarlison (Brazil)
- 10. Harry Kane (England)
- 21. Dejan Kulusevski (Sweden)
- 27. Lucas Moura (Brazil)
Tottenham Hotspur Players with Most Appearances
The club has has many loyal players that have amassed hundreds of appearances. Here are the top ten players who have played the most Tottenham Hotspur matches.
| Rank | Player Name | Years | League Games | FA Cup Matches | League Cup Appearances | European Games | Other Matches | Total |
| 1 | Steve Perryman | 1969-1986 | 655 | 69 | 66 | 64 | 12 | 866 |
| 2 | Gary Mabbutt | 1982-1998 | 477 | 45 | 60 | 22 | 7 | 611 |
| 3 | Pat Jennings | 1964-1977 | 472 | 43 | 39 | 36 | 0 | 590 |
| 4 | Tom Morris | 1888-1912 | 485 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 523 |
| 5 | Cyrill Knowles | 1964-1975 | 402 | 42 | 32 | 30 | 0 | 506 |
| 6 | Glenn Hoddle | 1975-1987 | 377 | 48 | 44 | 21 | 0 | 490 |
| 7 | Ted Ditchburn | 1946-1958 | 418 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 452 |
| 8 | Alan Gilzean | 1964-1974 | 343 | 40 | 28 | 28 | 0 | 439 |
| 9 | Jimmy Dimmock | 1919-1931 | 400 | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 438 |
| 10 | Phil Beal | 1963-1975 | 333 | 30 | 27 | 30 | 0 | 420 |
All Time Tottenham Top Scorers
Tottenham Hotspur have had some legendary forwards over their history. Here are the players that have helped Tottenham Hotspur score most often.
| Rank | Player Name | Years | League Goals | FA Cup Goals | League Cup Goals | European Goals | Other Goals | Total |
| 1 | Jimmy Greaves | 1961-1970 | 220 | 32 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 266 |
| 2 | Harry Kane | 2009-Present | 187 | 14 | 7 | 44 | 0 | 252 |
| 3 | Bobby Smith | 1955-1964 | 176 | 22 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 208 |
| 4 | Martin Chivers | 1968-1976 | 118 | 11 | 23 | 22 | 0 | 174 |
| 5 | Cliff Jones | 1958-1968 | 135 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 159 |
| 6 | Jermain Defoe | 2004-2008, 2009-2014 | 91 | 15 | 14 | 23 | 0 | 143 |
| 7 | George Hunt | 1930-1937 | 125 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 138 |
| 8 | Len Duquemin | 1946-1957 | 114 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 134 |
| 9 | Alan Gilzean | 1964-1974 | 93 | 21 | 6 | 13 | 0 | 133 |
| 10 | Heung-Min Son | 2015-Present | 93 | 12 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 131 |
Biggest Tottenham Signings & Transfers
Tottenham Hotspur FC have broken transfer records, both when buying players and selling them. In this section we’re going to examine the biggest ever Tottenham Hotspur transfers.
Most Expensive Tottenham Hotspur Transfers
Tottenham Hotspur are one of the richest clubs in the world and with their new stadium generating lots of money, have been splashing the cash. Below is the list of the most expensive Tottenham Hotspur transfer signings.
| Rank | Player Name | Year Signed | Club Signed From | Reported Fee |
| 1 | Tanguy Ndombele | 2019 | Lyon | £55m |
| 2 | Richarlison | 2022 | Everton | £50m |
| 3 | Cristian Romero | 2022 | Atalanta | £42.5m |
| 4 | Davinson Sanchez | 2017 | Ajax | £42m |
| 5 | Erik Lamela | 2013 | Roma | £30m |
| 5 | Moussa Sissoko | 2016 | Newcastle United | £30m |
| 7 | Steven Bergwijn | 2020 | PSV | £27m |
| 8 | Roberto Soldado | 2013 | Valencia | £26m |
| 9 | Yves Bissouma | 2022 | Brighton & Hove Albion | £25m |
| 9 | Emerson Royal | 2021 | Barcelona | £25m |
| 9 | Sergio Reguilon | 2020 | Real Madrid | £25m |
| 9 | Ryan Sessegnon | 2019 | Fulham | £25m |
| 9 | Lucas Moura | 2018 | Paris Saint-Germain | £25m |
Club’s Most Expensive Sales
At one point the sale of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid was the biggest transfer fee ever received by a club. Here are the top ten biggest players sales by Tottenham Hotspur.
| Rank | Player Name | Year Sold | Club Sold To | Reported Fee |
| 1 | Gareth Bale | 2013 | Real Madrid | £86.3m |
| 2 | Kyle Walker | 2017 | Manchester City | £53m |
| 3 | Luka Modric | 2012 | Real Madrid | £33m |
| 4 | Dimitar Berbatov | 2008 | Manchester United | £30.75m |
| 5 | Steven Bergwijn | 2022 | Ajax | £26m |
| 6 | Kieran Trippier | 2019 | Atletico Madrid | £20m |
| 7 | Robbie Keane | 2008 | Liverpool | £19m |
| 8 | Michael Carrick | 2006 | Manchester United | £18.6m |
| 9 | Christian Eriksen | 2020 | Internazionale | £18m |
| 9 | Kevin Wimmer | 2017 | Stoke City | £18m |
Tottenham Hotspur Manager List
Bill Nicholson stands head and shoulders above every other manager of Tottenham Hotspur football club. With a league title, three FA Cups, two League Cups, a European Cup Winners’ Cup and a UEFA Cup, Nicholson is by far the most successful manager that the club have ever had. Here is the full list of Tottenham Hotspur managers.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Home Tottenham Hotspur games are played at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium capacity is 62,850.
Spurs moved to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2019. Home Tottenham Hotspur fixtures had previously been played at Wembley Stadium for two years, while the new ground was being built. Between 1899 and 2017, Tottenham Hotspur had played their home games at White Hart Lane.
Tottenham Rivalries
Based in London, Tottenham Hotspur face a number of intense derbies each season against rival clubs from the capital. They also face a number of big games against the Premier League’s most successful clubs from around the rest of the country.
In this section we’re going to take a look at and the biggest rivalries of Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham vs Arsenal
There is no bigger foe for Tottenham Hotspur than Arsenal. The Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal fixture is known as the North London Derby. Arsenal were originally based in South London, but moved to Highbury in 1913, just four miles from White Hart Lane, which properly began the rivalry between the clubs.
Tensions were exacerbated in 1919. After the World War I the First Division was being expanded by two teams and a vote was held to determine who those sides had been. Tottenham Hotspur had finished bottom of the 20-team First Division in the last season before the war and the vote was expected to be between them and Barnsley, who had finished between third in Division Two. Yet Arsenal also applied and despite finishing sixth in Division Two, were awarded the promotion, with Tottenham Hotspur relegated.
The antipathy between the clubs has only grown over the years, perhaps peaking when the Spurs captain Sol Campbell left the club to join Arsenal on a free transfer. Here is the breakdown of Tottenham Hotspur results in the North London Derby.
| Competition | Tottenham Wins | Draws | Arsenal Wins |
| League | 55 | 47 | 68 |
| FA Cup | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| League Cup | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| European Matches | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Games | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 61 | 51 | 79 |
Tottenham vs Chelsea
Another intense London rivalry exists with Chelsea. A survey revealed that though Spurs supporters consider Arsenal to be their main rival, Chelsea fans picked Tottenham Hotspur to be their biggest rival.
The rivalry really sprang into life when Tottenham Hotspur beat Chelsea in the 1967 FA Cup final. This built in the 1974-75 season when both clubs were fighting against relegation, with Spurs staying up by a single point and Chelsea being relegated. Tottenham Hotspur beat Chelsea in the 2007-08 League Cup Final, but lost when the clubs met again in the 2014-15 final. Here is the full breakdown of results in the Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur fixture.
| Competition | Tottenham Wins | Draws | Chelsea Wins |
| League | 47 | 38 | 62 |
| FA Cup | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| League Cup | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| European Matches | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Games | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 55 | 42 | 77 |
Tottenham vs Man United
Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United were two of the best teams in England during the 1960s. There were also fairly evenly matched in the 70s and 80s, but this changed when Manchester United began to have major success under Alex Ferguson in the 90s and beyond. One of the many trophies won by Ferguson was the 2009 League Cup final, when they defeated Tottenham Hotspur in the final.
If wasn’t until Ferguson left that Tottenham Hotspur were able to compete against the Manchester club and regularly finish above them in the Premier League. Here is the complete record of results between the teams.
| Competition | Tottenham Wins | Draws | Manchester United Wins |
| League | 42 | 43 | 85 |
| FA Cup | 5 | 5 | 6 |
| League Cup | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| European Matches | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Other Games | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 53 | 49 | 95 |
Tottenham vs Liverpool
Another club that have been far more successful than Tottenham Hotspur over the decades are Liverpool. Again, things have evened up over recent years, but Liverpool then moved to another level under Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool have twice won finals against Tottenham Hotspur, first winning the League Cup Final of 1983 and then more recently, the Champions League final of 2019. Here is the breakdown of results between the clubs.
| Competition | Tottenham Wins | Draws | Liverpool Wins |
| League | 42 | 41 | 75 |
| FA Cup | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| League Cup | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| European Matches | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Other Games | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 48 | 44 | 87 |
Tottenham vs Man City
Man City might be the most successful club in England since Pep Guardiola took charge, but Tottenham Hotspur have managed to be a thorn in their side, beating them several times, including both Premier League games in the 2021-22 season.
Tottenham Hotspur F.C. also beat Manchester City on away goals in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, after a thrilling 4-4 draw after two legs. The clubs have met twice in cup finals, with Tottenham Hotspur winning the 1981 FA Cup Final and Manchester City winning the 2021 League Cup Final. Here are the full set of results.
| Competition | Tottenham Wins | Draws | Manchester City Wins |
| League | 56 | 33 | 58 |
| FA Cup | 6 | 3 | 5 |
| League Cup | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| European Matches | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Other Games | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 65 | 36 | 65 |
Tottenham vs West Ham
A third London club that consider Tottenham Hotspur to be their main rival are West Ham. The Hammers are based in East London and over the years, its Spurs in North East London that have tended to be their closest team geographically.
West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur have been playing each other since before the clubs even entered the Football League. Here is the full breakdown of results.
| Competition | Tottenham Wins | Draws | West Ham Wins |
| League | 88 | 48 | 60 |
| FA Cup | 6 | 3 | 2 |
| League Cup | 5 | 2 | 4 |
| European Matches | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other Games | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 99 | 53 | 66 |
