Football London

Ledley King was forced to retire from professional football in 2012 at the age of 31 after being told he could end up in a wheelchair in his 30s if he kept playing

Ledley King was warned he could be confined to a wheelchair by his 30s unless he retired early. The former Tottenham and England defender called time on his career in 2012 at the age of 31.

King is a legend in one corner of north London, having dedicated his entire 13-year playing career to Spurs. During that period, he also represented the Three Lions on 21 occasions, a figure that would likely have been significantly higher had it not been for recurring injuries.

The 45-year-old battled knee issues throughout much of his Premier League stint and shortly before making the decision to retire, medical professionals warned him that continuing to play could leave him wheelchair-bound.

"It was 2012 and funnily enough for the first part of the season I felt as good as I'd felt in a long time," said King, speaking on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet.

"I was doing well. I'd played 11 or 12 games and not lost any. But I was training the day before a game and had a clash with a goalkeeper. My knee just blew up.

"I was out for about three weeks and they ended up taking fluid out of my knee. They were taking loads out and we were set to play Manchester City.

"I really had no business playing but they took out all the fluid and I came back for that game. We were 2-0 down and brought it back to 2-2, but I gave away a penalty. That was the beginning of the end.

"I never felt the same after that injury. I played around 11 or 12 more games, played a total of 23 games that season. Normally when you finish you play three or four games. I played 23.

"But it was the quality. In the second half of the games I was playing, the quality was just not there. I couldn't move. And for the first time, I didn't enjoy football. I felt like I wasn't helping my team.

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"So at the end of that season I sat down with my surgeon and he basically said, 'You're going to end up in a wheelchair in your 30s if you keep trying to push it.

"Judging by the way it felt and what he said I knew it was time. It was tough. It's always tough when you retire, stop doing something, when you stop doing what you're doing.

"I never really allowed myself to think about retirement because I was just constantly fighting to keep going. I never mentally prepared for it.

"I thought I was like RoboCop or something, just keep going, you know?'Keep going, keep going every year. Find a way to play.' But it was tough."

Tottenham were open to recruiting a left-winger in the summer transfer window - on top of the arrival of Xavi Simons - but club chiefs were unable to broker the right deal for Thomas Frank

Ademola Lookman's time at Atalanta once appeared to be the perfect marriage. In May 2024, the Nigerian's remarkable Europa League final treble to down unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin saw him become the first player to net a hat-trick in a major European final since 1975.

But since then, it's been a bumpy ride in Bergamo for the 28-year-old former Charlton, Everton, Fulham and Leicester winger.

Last week, in the closing stages of the club's Champions League group phase clash against Marseille, Lookman was subbed by now-sacked boss Ivan Juric and the pair came to blows as the attacker left the field.

Atalanta later snatched a winner at the death through Lazar Samardzic and while the altercation was seemingly skated over because of the victory, Juric was sacked following his side's 3-0 Serie A defeat to Sassuolo last weekend.

Lookman wanted out of Atalanta in the summer and despite long-winded transfer negotiations with Inter Milan, a deal could not be struck to bring him to San Siro and he eventually stayed put.

Atletico Madrid were also attentive to his situation but with Lookman now swiftly approaching the final 18 months of his contract in Bergamo, there's a lingering sense that his future is likely to be resolved soon as his value is rapidly decreasing.

At 28, he does not fit Tottenham's usual transfer criteria but nobody can dispute he remains one of the best left-winger options currently available on the market.

He may also personally feel as if he has unfinished business in the Premier League after taking his game to the next level in Italy.

The left flank has been somewhat of a problem position for Spurs this term, despite Thomas Frank having a number of options within his current squad.

Tottenham looked at Antoine Semenyo in the summer but were put off by Bournemouth's excessive demands. Though looking back, the figures that were quoted at the time by the Cherries probably now look slim following Semenyo's explosive start to the campaign.

Mathys Tel, Wilson Odobert and Brennan Johnson have all shown flashes of promise but no player has really locked down the role and grabbed it with both hands. Xavi Simons has also been utilised on the wing at times, alongside centre-forward Richarlison.

However, if Tottenham are to kick on under Frank, it's clear they need a consistent source of goals and assists from the left flank, like they've had in previous times in Son Heung-min.

The South Korean icon is a legend in N17 and in many respects, remains irreplaceable but perhaps Lookman is an option that is worth considering, given he now appears to have entered the final chapter of his story with Atalanta.

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will be one of nine grounds in the United Kingdom to host matches at Euro 2028 - and the games that will be played at the ground have now been revealed

The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will not host any England matches at Euro 2028. Instead, the Three Lions will begin their campaign at the Etihad Stadium before playing two final group stage matches at Wembley Stadium – so long as they qualify directly to the tournament.

The European Championship will be staged across eight host cities in the United Kingdom: London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow, Dublin, and Cardiff. UEFA have announced that each of the host nations will play all their group games in front of their own fans if they qualify directly.

The final and semi-finals will be played at Wembley Stadium, while the quarter-finals will be held across all four host nations: Dublin Arena (Ireland), Hampden Park (Scotland), Principality Stadium (Wales), and Wembley Stadium (England).

The round of 16 will be staged at one match per stadium, except Wembley, which will host eight games from start to finish. So, all in all, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host four group games and one round of 16 tie, with neither of which set to feature Thomas Tuchel's side.

Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt has pledged that the host nations will stage the "best ever" Euros following a spectacular launch in London. The arrangements for Euro 2028 have been unveiled, with the competition set to commence in Cardiff on June 9 and the final scheduled to take place at Wembley on July 9.

In previous 'home tournaments' during the 1966 World Cup and Euro 96, England played all their domestic fixtures at Wembley. This represents a significant shift for the Three Lions as they take the country on tour, with the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Etihad Stadium, Villa Park, St James' Park, and the Hill Dickinson Stadium all hosting matches.

Dublin, Cardiff and Glasgow will also host fixtures, and should England finish second in their group, they could find themselves playing in Merseyside. Despite co-hosting duties, Tuchel's squad must still earn qualification.

Wembley will stage the semi-finals and the final, though none of the last-16 encounters, which will be distributed amongst the eight remaining venues, meaning England will be displaced from their north-west London headquarters should they reach that phase.

There are 51 matches featuring 24 teams across 31 days in total, with each stadium accommodating a minimum of two different groups to guarantee diversity. The tournament was unveiled with considerable ceremony featuring a spectacular light display across Piccadilly Circus and additional Euro 2028 host venues throughout the UK and Ireland.

The Euro 2028 emblem, showcasing the legendary Henri Delaunay Trophy, represents what UEFA describe as "a dynamic design that captures the spirit of festivity and connection, brought to life through vibrant colours inspired by the host nations."

FA chairman Hewitt said: "Today marks a proud milestone for football across the UK and Ireland as we celebrate the launch of UEFA EURO 2028. Working with UEFA and our football and government partners, we will deliver the best-ever EURO. It will be a tournament for the fans and a festival of everything we love about the game – its passion and ability to bring people together.

"We are building an inspiring event – a welcoming, safe and sustainable UEFA EURO that will create lasting community benefits far beyond the pitch. The countdown is truly on now to what will be an unforgettable summer of football."

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin said: "The host nations, where the game first took shape, are eager to welcome millions of fans into legendary stadiums. The fans will be the beating heart of this tournament."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "UEFA EURO 2028 will be the biggest sporting event ever jointly hosted by the UK and Ireland and, as a lifelong football fan, I know how much international competitions like this matter. This tournament will bring fans from across Europe to iconic footballing cities like Birmingham and Glasgow, inspire the next generation to lace up their boots, and deliver billions in economic benefits."

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "The summer of 2028 will be a massive moment for the whole of the UK and Ireland as we welcome football fans from across Europe. Football reaches people like nothing else – it crosses every boundary, speaks every language, and has the power to bring together communities in ways that other things simply cannot."

Radu Dragusin was welcomed back to match action by Tottenham teammate James Maddison with two heartfelt exchanges shared between the duo

James Maddison has sent a heartfelt message to Radu Dragusin following his first match minutes in nine months during a behind-closed-doors friendly on Wednesday. The Tottenham defender has been absent since January with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), but has now taken a huge step towards a competitive return.

The Romania international re-joined team training several weeks ago, though Spurs have been carefully managing his return having missed such a significant period.

"He's fully integrated into training now," head coach Thomas Frank admitted in late October. "An ACL [injury] is not tricky, but it's such a big injury, because you're out for nine months, so you need to build strength in the knee. He is definitely getting closer to being involved. I think we plan to play him in a friendly [during the November break], as I understand it."

Dragusin also training with his national team has been mooted, despite the fact he will not feature in World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia and Herzegovina and San Marino.

The initial part of Tottenhan's plan has come to fruition at Hotspur Way with Dragusin playing the second 45 minutes of a friendly vs Leyton Orient. Maddison was in attendance for his comeback with the Spurs midfielder sharing a warm embrace with Dragusin before he took to the pitch.

Maddison later wrote to Instagram: "Day off for me today. But couldn't miss Radu's first minutes back after 9 months. I've seen first-hand how hard this man has worked to be in that position ready to play again today. His attitude honest to god keeps me so motivated [arm flexed emoji]. Proud of ya mush [white heart emoji]."

Dragusin, who also posted to social media about his return, directly replied to Maddison stating: "Means a lot mate." The latter has also suffered a severe knee injury and is just over three months into his own comeback with Frank hopeful he can play at some point this season.

Tottenham have been absolutely battered by injuries over these last few months with Dejan Kulusevski another longer-term absentee - having undergone knee surgery in May. Elsewhere, Dominic Solanke and Ben Davies have barely played this season with ankle and thigh issues, respectively.

Yves Bissouma, Archie Gray and Kota Takai are also absent right now, and Lucas Bergvall has missed the last two games due to concussion. Mohammed Kudus was unavailable for the 2-2 draw against Manchester United, but is expected back after the international break.

One player unlikely to feature in the impending North London Derby is Randal Kolo Muani. He was withdrawn at half-time this past weekend with it later revealed he has a fractured jaw following a inadvertent collision with his opponent Harry Maguire.

There were also one or two concerns surrounding Cristian Romero after he was also substituted after receiving treatment - but Frank later confirmed it was fatigue. He has since joined up with Argentina for friendlies against Angola and Australia.

The latest Tottenham transfer news as Rodrygo touches down in London ahead of Brazil's international friendly hosted at the Emirates Stadium.

Rodrygo has touched down in London amid claims that the Brazilian international could be looking to sign for a new club this winter.

The 24-year-old shared a collage of photos on Instagram ahead of Brazil's international friendly against Senegal, which will be played at the Emirates Stadium. However, Tottenham Hotspur may be hoping Rodrygo's attention drifts to the other side of north London.

Both Spurs and Arsenal were linked with the winger over the summer, with his place in Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid squad uncertain.

Rodrygo chose to stay at the club he has openly declared his love for. But after just two starts in Madrid's opening 12 La Liga fixtures, the 24-year-old is reportedly becoming frustrated with his situation.

According to ESPN Brazil, Rodrygo is 'dissatisfied' with his current role at Madrid - and a 'possible departure' could be on the horizon for him.

The winger's unhappiness might stem from previous comments made by Alonso. Real's returning Spanish manager insisted during the summer that Rodrygo was 'still important' - yet his limited minutes suggest otherwise.

Now seemingly unsettled, Spurs' transfer alarm bells could be ringing, once again. ESPN Brazil also report that, if Rodrygo were to leave, his preferred destination would be a Premier League club.

Arsenal appeared to be the most likely to sign him last summer, but Rodrygo made clear in October that he had no plans to leave Madrid. He told Spanish outlet AS: "Every summer, the same thing happens to me. Whether I'm going to leave or whether I have offers from this club or that.

"Every week, I was in a team if I paid attention to what was published. Of course, there are always offers; I'm not going to lie about that.

"But I've always made it clear to the club that I want to continue succeeding here, even more than I already have. It's a lot to have won two Champions Leagues at my age, but now I want more European Cups in this shirt.

"I've always said; 'As long as Real Madrid wants me, I'll be here'. If one day Real Madrid says to me; 'Rodry, find a team', I'll say; 'Okay'. But that hasn't happened.

"The club has always told me they count on me. And when I have had a problem, they were there for me. People speculated because I kept quiet. But I knew what I was going to do this season with Real Madrid and that I'm going to be focused on giving my best.

"It hasn't bothered me. I was calm, and here I am... as always. This is my seventh season."

Tottenham attacking midfielder Dejan Kulusevski has been sidelined since May when he picked up an injury against Crystal Palace that saw him miss Spurs' Europa League final triumph over Manchester United

Dejan Kulusevski is back doing fitness work on the grass as the Tottenham playmaker continues his recovery from surgery on his right patella.

The Swede, who picked up the knee issue back in May against Crystal Palace, is yet to kick a ball for Spurs this season under Thomas Frank.

However, Destiny Udogie has now offered hope his team-mate is finally on the comeback trail in what would represent a major boost for Tottenham.

Posting on his Snapchat account, the left-back shared a small clip of Kulusevski doing some fitness work on the grass in Dubai, where the pair are seemingly training together.

Spurs remain reluctant to put a timeframe on the Sweden international's return and it remains unclear whether he will be back on the pitch in a playing capacity before the end of 2025.

Udogie has not long returned to action himself after battling a knee problem and he was recently left out of Italy's national team squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Norway, respectively.

At the end of October, Frank revealed Kulusevski was not yet training on the grass, which would indicate he has now taken another crucial step in his recovery.

The Dane said last month: “That’s a good question, he’s still not on the grass and we’re working very hard to get him fit as quick as possible, I think my message is that he’s not on the grass yet.”

Spurs have battled a raft of first-team injuries so far this season and a number of other key players remain absent.

Dominic Solanke is yet to return following minor ankle surgery, while Radu Dragusin, Archie Gray, Ben Davies, Kota Takai and James Maddison remain absent.

Lucas Bergvall is set to return for Tottenham after the international having suffered concussion in the opening exchanges of the 1-0 derby defeat to Chelsea.

Mohammed Kudus hasn't joined up with the Ghana squad due to a knock while Randal Kolo Muani also suffered a fractured jaw in Spurs' dramatic 2-2 draw against Manchester United before the break.

While the diagnosis comes as a hammer blow for Frank, who is already light on the ground in attack, it's being viewed positively as the PSG loanee does not require surgery.

Tottenham defender Luka Vuskovic is making a real name for himself while on loan in Germany at Hamburger SV and he's expected to make his first international start for Croatia later this week

Luka Vuskovic has revealed he's still in touch with Tottenham despite being on loan at Hamburg, however, he doesn't know when he'll be going back to Spurs.

The 18-year-old centre-back has been an instant hit in the Bundesliga this season and has forced his way straight into HSV's starting XI.

His glistening form has also been rewarded at international level as Vuskovic is currently in line to earn his first senior Croatia start on Friday evening against the Faroe Islands.

Ahead of this week's World Cup qualifier, he was nominated to speak to the media back in his homeland and inevitably, he was asked about his future.

Vuskovic said: “I’m happy with everything at HSV. My grades are good, even above expectations.

"My teammates are great, everyone supports me and I have no bad words or criticism. I just need to keep going.

“Tottenham? I hear from them, they follow me. They are a good club when it comes to developing young players. I don’t know when I will be back.”

Spurs currently have no plans to recall Vuskovic from his current loan as he is playing regular football in one of Europe's top-five domestic leagues and additionally, he's performing well.

The talented teenager is expected to remain with HSV until the end of the season when his future will be reassessed by the Tottenham hierarchy.

The Europa League winners have huge faith in Vuskovic's potential but there is also recognition that Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven are among the best centre-back pairings in world football.

Vuskovic is understood to have personally pushed to depart Spurs on loan in pursuit of regular playing time.

Given Thomas Frank also has Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin at his disposal, Spurs were unable to offer Vuskovic consistent minutes this season.

The Croatian gem did make a notable impression in pre-season though, notching a goal and an assist on his first Tottenham appearance in a 2-0 friendly win at Reading in July.

A number of clubs from Germany, France and Belgium were queuing up to sign Vuskovic on loan in the summer but he chose HSV as his older brother, Mario, also plays for the Bundesliga outfit although he's currently suspended.

Vuskovic netted his first Hamburg goal back in September when he scored in a 2-1 league victory over Heidenheim.

His Spurs contract runs until the summer of 2030, so Tottenham are under no immediate pressure to make a decision over his future after pipping Manchester City and PSG to a deal in September 2023.

There's a huge Premier League match to come for Tottenham Hotspur's players and coaches once this international break comes to a close

Thomas Frank will already be plotting for his first north London derby and he will be raring to go in training as soon as his Tottenham players return from international duty.

The Dane and his non-international Spurs players, those who are not recovering from injury, are enjoying a rest in the early days of this week before returning to sessions at Hotspur Way. When those players return, Frank will look to get one or two involved in an U21s friendly at the training ground, with Radu Dragusin set to play after training with his Romania team-mates.

Then Frank will be sweating on the return of the international stars as all but one take on two matches during this fortnight. With the Premier League return taking place at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, both Tottenham and Arsenal have one extra day to prepare and recover after the players return.

The first player back from international duty should be captain Cristian Romero because Argentina recently postponed next week's friendly against India, meaning he will only play once for his country on Friday in a friendly away against Angola.

The next set of players back at the Enfield training complex will be Xavi Simons and Micky van de Ven, with the Netherlands playing a home World Cup qualifier against Lithuania on Monday night, while Wilson Odobert and Mathys Tel will play for France under-21s in their home European Championship qualifier against the Faroe Islands. If they all play then Tuesday will be a recovery day at Hotspur Way before returning to full training on Wednesday.

Then on Tuesday, six Tottenham players are in action across the globe, starting with Pape Matar Sarr in Senegal's friendly against Kenya in Turkey and Lucas Bergvall, following his concussion return, playing for Sweden at home in a World Cup qualifier against Slovenia.

Kevin Danso has a home World Cup qualifier with Austria against Bosnia-Herzegovina as does Brennan Johnson for Wales against North Macedonia and Pedro Porro with Spain against Turkey. As with Sarr playing closer to home, so is Richarlison as Brazil will face Tunisia in a friendly in France.

Rodrigo Bentancur however is playing for Uruguay away against the USA in a friendly later than evening at midnight UK time, which means the midfielder could be the latest player back to Hotspur Way, potentially on the Thursday after travelling back.

That leaves Frank with three days to work with his entire squad of available players before taking on Mikel Arteta's side across north London.

Arsenal have several injury concerns ahead of a clash against Tottenham Hotspur after the international break

Arsenal will be hoping that their injury list begins to clear up after the international break reaches its conclusion.

The Gunners have a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table and were forced to settle for a draw in their previous match against Sunderland.

Manchester City's win over Liverpool on Sunday saw Pep Guardiola's side close the gap on Arsenal, who will now look ahead to the North London Derby on November 23 when the top flight returns.

Mikel Arteta has been forced to handle several injury concerns throughout the season so far, despite managing to maintain frequent wins that have built a decent lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Arsenal will be hoping that some of the players on the sidelines return from injury after the international break, but there are still question marks over several members of the squad.

Here, football.london takes a look at Arsenal's current injury list and potential return dates.

Viktor Gyokeres

After scoring six goals since his move to Arsenal, Viktor Gyokeres has missed the last two matches with a muscle injury.

The Gunners will hope to have Gyokeres available after the international break, with Arteta recently expressing his concern for the striker's fitness.

“I am concerned because he [Gyokeres] hasn't had many muscular issues and he had to leave the pitch," Arteta told reporters on November 3. "He was feeling something and that’s obviously never a good sign.

"Especially for a player that is very, very explosive, so we are digging in a little bit more to understand where we are in terms of the injury and we will announce it when we know more.”

Potential return date: November 23 - Tottenham Hotspur (H)

Martin Odegaard

Martin Odegaard has spent a large portion of the season on the side lines with various injury concerns.

After overcoming a shoulder injury in the early weeks of the campaign, the Arsenal captain is now recovering from a knee injury he picked up at the start of October and is not expected to return for some time.

"It is steady. It is going in a steady direction but he is some distance away," Norway manager Stale Solbakken recently said about Odegaard's recovery.

Potential return date: Late November/December

Kai Havertz

Kai Havertz has been sidelined for the majority of the season with a knee injury that he picked up in the Premier League opener against Manchester United in August.

Havertz needed minor surgery on the injury and is not expected to return until later in the year.

"Let’s see how he absorbs the load first when he starts to train with us, and when he’s done that, obviously we’re going to have to, especially in the first few weeks, keep an eye on him to manage the amount of minutes and when we play him," said Arteta when asked about Havertz last week.

Potential return date: December

Noni Madueke

Noni Madueke has missed Arsenal's last 11 matches due to a knee injury that he suffered back in September.

There will be optimism, though, from the Gunners to have the England international back available for the clash against Tottenham after the international break.

Potential return date: November 23 - Tottenham Hotspur (H)

Gabriel Martinelli

Gabriel Martinelli has been recovering from a knock that has kept the Brazilian on the sidelines for the last four matches.

The Gunners will be hoping to have Martinelli back in training and available for selection once the international break draws to a close.

Potential return date: November 23 - Tottenham Hotspur (H)

Gabriel Jesus

Gabriel Jesus has been sidelined with a knee injury that he suffered back in January.

After undergoing surgery, the striker has gradually been building up his fitness with the aim of returning to the matchday squad later in the campaign.

Tottenham Hotspur have two players in their squad who could hand them a major financial boost

Tottenham Hotspur could be about to be handed a significant financial boost as a major update emerges about the value of some of their stars.

Spurs are currently in the early days of the November international break, which will be the final two-week hiatus from Premier League football for the calendar year.

Thomas Frank's side were held to a 2-2 draw with Manchester United over the weekend in their last fixture before the break, but two players were missing from the game.

Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray were both unavailable to face Man United due to injury, but each of the duo represent major financial value to Spurs.

The CIES Football Observatory have provided a report on the most valuable teenagers in world football, with both Bergvall and Gray featuring on the list.

Bergvall is among the highest-valued players on the list at €67million (£59million), while Gray is not far behind with a value of €54million (£47million) on the current market.

Given that both players are still under 20 years of age, Tottenham will be hoping that their market values will only increase as the years go on, along with their quality and importance to the team.

Bergvall is currently sidelined with a head injury that forced the midfielder to miss the draw with United through the Premier League's concussion protocols.

"Lucas got a concussion, which was probably pretty obvious from the footage," Frank told reporters last week when providing an update on Bergvall's injury.

"Big praise to the medical team, because it's a tricky situation to be in when it's two minutes into a game. So, well done to them because it's the player’s health that's the most important thing."

Before the injury, Bergvall had made 15 appearances for Tottenham this season with one goal to his name, which came against West Ham in the Premier League back in September.

Gray is also on the sidelines with injury, with the midfielder recovering from a calf issue that has forced the teenager to miss Tottenham's last four matches.

Tottenham will be hoping to have Bergvall and Gray back from their respective injuries after the international break reaches its conclusion.