Tottenham Hotspur’s Unsung Heroes: five cult heroes who deserved wider recognition

Every football team has seen its fair share of superstars grace their pitches, and Tottenham Hotspur is no different. The likes of Harry Kane, Gareth Bale, and Glenn Hoddle are loved and revered by the Spurs faithful, and they have also gained global recognition for their performances in the Spurs’ famous white shirt. Behind these club legends are players who work tirelessly for the cause yet don’t receive the recognition they deserve outside of Tottenham circles. These unsung heroes don’t have statues outside the stadium, nor do they dominate the back pages, but without them, those who do would not have shone.

We are about to look at five former Spurs players—past and present—who have been instrumental to Tottenham over the years but never quite got the adulation they deserved on a wider scale.

Michael Dawson

Michael Dawson spent almost a decade at the heart of the Spurs defense after arriving from Nottingham Forest for £8 million in 2005, a deal that also saw Andy Reid join the club. Although Dawson lacked the technical finesse of some of the Premier League’s best ball-playing center-backs, he made up for it with leadership, grit, determination, and dedication to the club. Spurs’ odds shortened in the BetOnline betting markets whenever Dawson was in the starting XI, such was his influence on the team.

Dawson was part of the team that qualified for the Champions League for the first time in 2010. He never shirked from a challenge, was prepared to play through the pain barrier if it helped get the team over the line, and still found time to chip in with the occasional goal.

The Yorkshireman made 324 appearances for Spurs, scoring 10 goals. However, he only earned four England caps, which is a travesty and shows that his efforts were mostly appreciated by those connected to White Hart Lane.

Steffen Freund

It’s baffling to think that a player who won two German Bundesliga titles, the UEFA Champions League, and the European Championships somehow played under the radar, but Steffen Freund did precisely that. The German midfielder joined Spurs from Borussia Dortmund in 1998 and stayed with the club until 2003.

Freund, who infamously failed to score in 131 appearances for Spurs, was relentless in the team’s midfield, breaking up attacks, making crucial last-ditch tackles, and providing a shield in front of the defense.

He played a pivotal role in Spurs’ 1999 League Cup-winning side, and the fans loved the German for his unbelievable work ethic and his willingness to do the dirty work so others around him could shine.

Freund left the club in 2003 with the fans’ blessing, returning to his native Germany with Kaiserslautern. Despite lacking goals, Freund remains a cult hero among the Spurs faithful.

Erik Lamela

Ask any Spurs fan who remembers Erik Lamela’s time at the club to describe him in one word, and most will say frustrating. A world beater on his day, the Argentinian joined Spurs in August 2013 for an initial £25.8 million plus up to £4.2 million in add-ons. The fee made Lamela Spurs’ record signing as the club splashed the cash generated from the Gareth Bale sale to Real Madrid.

Lamela’s aggression, skill, and unpredictability endeared him to Tottenham supporters; who can forget his audacious rabona goal against Arsenal? Capable of producing moments of magic that left you open-mouthed one minute but then firing a cross into the stands the next, Lamela was the kind of player who could have become world-class but just didn’t make the grade.

Inconsistency and injuries plagued his time at Spurs, as did the expectation of him being Bale’s replacement. However, he still managed 37 goals and 44 assists in 257 appearances. The 43 bookings he picked up along the way tell you all you need to know about the Argentinian’s tenacity and aggression!

Aaron Lennon

Leeds United fans were gutted when news broke that Aaron Lennon was moving to Spurs for a mere £1 million in 2005. The cash-strapped Yorkshire club had high hopes for their youth product, but finances dictated he must be sold. Leeds’ loss was Tottenham’s gain, as Lennon went on to make 364 appearances over ten years, scoring 30 goals and producing 76 assists.

The lightning-fast winger’s final ball was sometimes inconsistent, which is likely why he is often overlooked in discussions about Spurs’ greatest wingers and why he only won 21 England caps. However, nobody can deny Lennon’s reliability and work ethic throughout his decade-long stay with Tottenham.

Ben Davies

Full-backs are expected to be attacking powerhouses in the modern Premier League era, which is why many Spurs fans think Ben Davies is underrated and underappreciated. Since joining from Swansea City for an undisclosed fee in July 2014, Davies has provided reliable performances at left-back and as a left-sided centre-back and has done so under several managerial regimes.

While Davies may lack the athleticism and attacking prowess of a prime Danny Rose, Davies more than makes up for that with his tactical intelligence, defensive discipline, and professionalism. Davies is most certainly an unsung hero for the Spurs and has been an incredibly valuable squad player for the past ten years.

The Legacy of Spurs’ Unsung Heros

Spurs fans are no different from other football teams’ supporters in they love nothing more than watching a superstar player run riot on the pitch. Additionally, Tottenham fans appreciate and understand that not everyone can have Harry Kane’s goal-scoring ability or flair in abundance like Gareth Bale. If a player gives their all in a Tottenham shirt, is prepared to put their head in where it hurts, and doesn’t shirk their responsibility, they will be backed to the hilt and adored just as much as the superstar players.

Michael Dawson, Steffen Freund, Erik Lamela, Aaron Lennon, and Ben Davies are all good, honest, hard-working players. Their names may not come up when discussing all-time greats, but they proved their worth to Spurs fans and will forever enjoy cult hero status.