Tottenham Hotspur has the greatest players in Premier League history for many years, from Baron d’Or winners like Luca Modrick to international superstars like Gareth Bale, but former striker Dimiter Berbatov believes one spur is better than recognized.
Tottenham’s 2024/25 campaign ended the trophy drought by winning the Europa League against Manchester United. This was one of the worst seasons ever, one of the best endings of all time, with Ange Postecoglou good at making his promise to “always win” in his second season with the club.
The Lily Whites spent 17 years without earning any major honors, and they watched legendary players like Harry Kane’s entire career with the club without winning the trophy.
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One of the well-known players who managered to secure silverware for the club was Defender Red Lee King. The Tottenham Academy alumni were part of the last Tottenham team to win the trophy before the club’s victory at Bilbao in 2008, winning the League Cup in 2008.
However, his career was primarily an example of “what if.” Because former manager Harry Redknap has revealed he was previously untrained due to injuries.
“There’s no cure. There’s no cartilage, there’s nothing that works. It’s just bone bones. So it’s a matter of managing that. It swells after the game and usually takes seven days to recover, but on Monday night it took less than usual.
“He rarely trains. He mainly goes to the gym and keeps ticking at the moment. But he’s running or not like that. But even if he’s only playing 20 games in a season, he has a very good chance, so he’s very good.”
Belbatov: Ledley King was just as good as Ferdinand and Vidic
One man who was lucky enough to play with some of the best centre-backs in Premier League history was Berbatov. Berbatov joined Manchester United in 2008 after two successful seasons with the Spurs, claiming King was just the best.
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Bulgarian legend, in an interview with Talksport, was King who was there as one of his greatest teammates of all time, winning all his successes at United – two Premier League titles.
“For me, he was there with (nemanja) Vidic and Rio (Ferdinand). He was very smart and he read the games very well.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is another king’s admiration and revealed he is the “only defender in England” who can rob the ball from him “without you realise.”
King spent the 2020/21 season on Jose Mourinho’s first team staff and has since continued his work with the club in the role of ambassador, but his name can be heard ringing around Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the 26th minute of the game.
Hopefully he won’t have to wait another 17 years to see his favorite club lift another trophy.