Tottenham Hotspur

Sunday represents the 169th north London derby in the Football League/Premier League, going all the way back to back-to-back matches in the space of a week in 1921, including our first visit to Highbury following Arsenal's move from Woolwich in 1912. It's a match like no other, a derby that puts us through all the emotions, from delirious highs to heart-breaking lows.

To mark the latest N17 v N5 showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, we've selected a Spurs goal to remember from each of the last five decades...

Spurs 5-0 Arsenal - 04.04.1983

The demons of a 5-0 defeat at the Lane in 1979 were exorcised four years later, with an outstanding performance to put the Gunners to the sword. The goals were fantastic, as well, starting with a one-touch move to set up Chris Hughton for the opener, through to Mark Falco's controlled volley for 4-0 and Alan Brazil's calm finish for his first Spurs goal, our fifth on the day. But the second goal has to go down as one of the derby greats. Starting from the back, Ray Clemence took a short goal-kick to Gary O'Reilly, he played up the touchline to Terry Gibson, who spun away from his marker and raced 30 yards before crossing to the edge of the box where Falco, without breaking stride, volleyed into the roof of the net. "It was the best goal I've seen for a long time," said manager, Keith Burkinshaw, at the time, delighted to erase the memory of that 5-0 loss. "That hurt a lot," he admitted.

Spurs 3-1 Arsenal - 14.04.1991

As skipper Gary Mabbutt will tell you, everything was against us going into this historic first FA Cup semi-final at Wembley. Arsenal were top of the table and heading for the title - they would lose just once all season, conceding a measly 18 goals - while we would finish 10th, 34 points behind. However, this was the chance to end the Gunners' charge towards the double, and we seized the day. Maybe it just needed a moment of genius to click our belief into gear - Paul Gascoigne delivered it, in style, pinging home his now infamous free-kick from 35 yards after just five minutes. Gary Lineker soon made it 2-0 as we completely outplayed the champions elect. Alan Smith gave Arsenal hope at 2-1 but Lineker secured our place in the final with the third - a final we'd go on to win, against Forest.

Arsenal 4-4 Spurs - 29.10.2008

We'd stormed to a 5-1 win against Arsenal in the League Cup in January, 2008, but things looked to be going against us when we returned to the Emirates that October. Harry Redknapp had replaced Juande Ramos as we struggled at the wrong end of the table - indeed, Arsenal were third when we stepped out, we were rock bottom. What a game, though! David Bentley kicked it all off with one of the all-time great NLD goals, a dipper from fully 40 yards after spotting Manuel Almunia off his line. However, Arsenal responded and we were 3-1 down when Darren Bent gave us hope on 67 minutes, only for Robin van Persie to shut that down seconds later with Arsenal's fourth. We wouldn't give up though, and Jermain Jenas curled home a beauty for 4-3 with a minute left and then, deep into the fourth minute of added time, Almunia parried Luka Modric's volley and Aaron Lennon tapped home for 4-4. "I feel like Superman," Bentley told Sky Sports afterwards, and then arrived for training the next day with Superman boxer shorts over his tracksuit!

Spurs 2-1 Arsenal - 14.04.2010

Not only was this one of the sweetest Spurs strikes in derby history, but the context of the win crucial in the Club's modern history. Chasing a top four place and Champions League football for the first time - we were fifth, Arsenal were third - we came off the back of defeats at Sunderland and then a tough one, an FA Cup semi-final loss against a Portsmouth side that would finish bottom. Next up, back-to-back, must-win derbies against Arsenal and Chelsea in the space of four days. In for his Premier League debut, Danny Rose, 19 at the time, blasted us into the lead and carved his name into Club folklore with a one-in-a-million derby goal, a full-blooded thunderbolt of a volley from 35 yards that almost took the net into Park Lane. Gareth Bale clinched the win, we beat Chelsea then, later, beat City at the Etihad to secure fourth and a place in European football's promised land for the first time.

Spurs 2-0 Arsenal - 06.12.2020

A day of hope in the middle of the COVID crisis as 2,000 fans were allowed back in the stadium, and they witnessed a masterclass from Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, who would combine twice on the day and 14 times in 2020/21. Few will forget Sonny's goal, as Harry released him from deep in the left channel, the South Korean star running at Arsenal's back line before dispatching a curler into the top corner from 25 yards. The second was another cracker, this time Son's vision picking out Harry with a clever reverse pass and Harry doing the rest, drilling into the roof of the net, breaking the derby goals record in style with his 11th strike in the NLD. Once again, the win proved vital, as we finished a point above the Gunners to secure European football.

A very young Women’s Under-19s side suffered a disappointing 4-0 defeat at Liverpool in the Professional Game Academy League on Wednesday afternoon.

Head Coach Sabiha Jamal named six Under-16s players in the matchday squad, with two of those in the starting XI, alongside four of the first years from the Under-19s group in from the off, but the inexperienced group were quickly punished inside the opening 25 minutes on Merseyside.

Maddy Duffey handed the home side the lead after two minutes before doubling their advantage just before the midway point of the first period. Three minutes later, Maisie Darlington-Bullock made it three, giving the Reds a healthy lead ahead of the break.

We came out in the second half with a much-improved display and more intent, but were unable to find a breakthrough and, 10 minutes from time, Lucie Smith rounded off the scoring for the hosts. The result sees Liverpool leapfrog us in the table as we drop down to fifth-place.

The hosts made a quick start on a chilly afternoon in Liverpool as, with two minutes on the clock, Duffey open the scoring as she sent a low drive home at the near post from left side of the box after a strong run down the left-hand side. Goalscorer Duffey then fired a first time effort wide after a low ball across the box before she was later denied by Rose Mylam, as Liverpool looked to build on their positive start to the contest.

However, on 21 minutes, the home side manage to double their advantage as a ricochet from a clearance saw the ball fall kindly to Duffey inside the box and she slotted home first time. Matters got worse when Liverpool were awarded a penalty after Holly-Mae Elmes was penalised for a foul, but Betsi Salihi dragged her spot-kick wide of the target. However, minutes later, it eventually became three as a corner from the left was volleyed home by Darlington-Bullock in a crowded area. We looked for a response to the disappointing start, Rania Oukriss with a strong run from in her own half, guiding past two players with some nice footwork, before sending a left-footed effort narrowly over the bar.

We should have pulled a goal back minutes before the break, Holly-Mae Elmes’ ball over the top setting Oukriss through, her low strike from edge of the box was pushed away by Morgan, Jhanaie Pierre denied on the rebound from a tight angle before Nife Aramide fired wide on our third opportunity, which ultimately left us an uphill battle for the second period. Knowing our first half performance was not up to standards, we upped our tempo and showed more courage in the opening minutes after the restart, Eloise Summer-Mee’s shot from distance taking a slight deflection and into the hands of Morgan after a powerful run from inside our own half.

Substitute Cassie Shields, who was making her first appearance for the Under-19s, got down low to deny Duffey while, at the other end, Aramide drove a low effort into the side-netting. Despite a much-improved second half performance, we were unable to carve out many opportunities at goa and test Morgan in between the sticks, with Oukriss’ free-kick from the left edge of the box routine for Morgan.

The Reds then added a fourth on 80 minutes as a moment of miscommunication at the back saw Smith latched on to a loose ball inside our own half, in front of the centre, where she took it around the on-rushing Shields and slotted home into the empty net to ensure our young group suffered their first defeat in the league since early January.

Lenna Gunning-Williams and Sophie Jackson have been named in the England Under-23s and England Under-20s squad respectively for the upcoming international break.

The young forward was named in Emma Coates’ side this morning (Wednesday 18 February) as the Young Lionesses are set to face France and the Netherlands in the WU23s European League.

Capped seven times by England Under-23s since her maiden call-up in October, 2024, our Academy graduate has made eight appearances in total this term, eight in the Women’s Super League.

She also opened her account for the season last month – just her second goal for the Club – as she netted our final goal in the 3-1 win over Leicester City in the Women’s FA Cup.

The Young Lionesses’ will first travel to France on Monday 2 March (12pm UK) before welcoming the Netherlands to Croud Meadow Stadium, the home of Shrewsbury Town FC, on Friday 6 March (7pm).

Academy goalkeeper Sophie Jackson also continues to retain her place in the England youth squad after earning her maiden call-up to the international scene in October, 2025.

The young shot stopper, who has been at the Club since Under-14s level, was named in Lauren Smith’s squad, which consists of a mixture of Under-19s and Under-20s players, for their three fixtures against Spain, the Netherlands and Mexico, which are all taking place in Alicante, Spain.

Sophie, who has been regularly part of the Women’s first team set-up while featuring for our Under-19s this term, had a memorable first appearance on her international debut, preserving a clean sheet for England Under-19s in a 6-0 win over Estonia in October, 2025.

The Young Lionesses will begin their international camp with a fixture against Spain on Saturday 28 February (11am UK) before facing the Netherlands on Tuesday 3 March (3pm UK). They will round off their set of games by taking on Mexico on Friday 6 March (TBC kick-off).

Meanwhile, a number of our first team players have earned call-ups for their respective nations – Olivia Holdt for Denmark, Julie Blakstad and Signe Gaupset for Norway, with Cathinka Tandberg joining as a training player, and Lize Kop for the Netherlands.

Our new Men's Head Coach Igor Tudor takes his first steps in English football in a managerial career that now spans six countries since his first role in 2013.

A defender in his playing days, Igor started and ended his career with boyhood club Hajduk Split either side of a most notable nine-year spell at Italian giants Juventus - winning two Serie A titles, two Italian Super Cups, an Intertoto Cup and started in the 2003 Champions League final - and earned 55 caps for Croatia.

With a coaching CV totalling 10 clubs across Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Italy, France and now England, the 47-year-old has built a reputation for delivering instant improvements following various mid-season appointments through a style of play built on clarity, intensity and organisation.

Working in England for the first time, the Croat - who is fluent in English and Italian - has visited Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before in the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League - more on that later - and his primary task in the home dugout is none other than Sunday's north London derby against Arsenal in the Premier League.

As he introduces himself to our playing squad and gets to work at Hotspur Way this week, this is Igor's journey from early foundations in his home country to his latest adventure at Spurs.

One of his first assignments was the 2013 Croatian Cup final up against Lokomotiva and guided them to a 5-4 aggregate win over two legs in May 2013. In his first full season at the helm, he then led HAJ to a respectable third-placed finish in the Croatian top flight and would later depart the club with them in third position during the winter break the following term.

Trip overseas

In 2015, Igor moved to Greece to manage PAOK Thessaloniki and, prior to the Super League 1 season starting, he navigated PAOK through the UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds to the group stage proper - eventually ending third behind Krasnodar and Borussia Dortmund despite taking four points from the German outfit.

Spurs connection - Igor brought in Dimitar Berbatov on a free that summer.

He departed PAOK before the end of the campaign after 45 matches at the helm in March 2016 and made the move across the Mediterranean to Turkey later that year.

Initially joining newly-promoted Turkish Süper Lig side Kardemir Karabükspor ahead of the 2016/17 campaign, Igor impressed with the top division newcomers and, following 2-1 victories over both Galatasaray and eventual champions Besiktas in early 2017, he moved midway through the season to Turkish giants Galatasaray where he remained in post until the December.

Back to Italy

A household name in Italian football following his nine-year stint at the Old Lady in his playing days, his first move into managing in Serie A came at a struggling Udinese who were staring perilously at a first relegation in 25 years and on a 10-game losing streak in April 2018.

Having conceded a stoppage-time equaliser in a dramatic 3-3 draw with Benevento in his first game in charge, they bounced back from a 4-0 defeat to Inter Milan next time out with successive 1-0 wins over Hellas Verona and Bologna to beat the drop. The Croat departed Udinese at the end of that campaign, but was back the following term with the task of keeping them up once again as they sat one point above the relegation zone. With 11 games to navigate this time, and Spurs connection Sandro at the base of his midfield, he steered them well clear of trouble to end in 12th, a joint-best finish in the 13 years prior.

Igor left Italy in November 2019 and returned home for a brief second spell at Hajduk Split halfway through the 2019/20 season before being prized away by the club he played 174 games for to work under Juventus head coach Andrea Pirlo in 2020/21. During his time as assistant in Turin, he worked with our current players Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur and Radu Dragusin as Juve ended with the Coppa Italia and 78 points to finish fourth in Serie A – a tally which hasn’t been bettered since by the club.

He stepped back into management the following season when he took over a winless Hellas Verona four games into the 2021/22 campaign. Implementing an aggressive style of play and a back three tactical setup utilising energetic wing-backs, they were the league’s surprise package and finished above expectations in ninth with 53 points as well as the joint-fourth best scorers in the division.

After one season in Verona, Igor was then appointed as Olympique de Marseille head coach ahead of 2022/23 and his demanding fitness standards and structured pressing game shaped them into one of Ligue 1's most intense sides predominantly playing his favoured 3-4-2-1 system.

Unbeaten in his opening six league games - five wins, one draw - his first defeat of the campaign would come in the Champions League group stage opener when the French outfit travelled to N17 and a Richarlison brace in the final 15 minutes helped see off 10-man Marseille in September 2022.

In the return leg at the Stade Velodrome, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's winner deep into injury-time sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory to see us through to the knockouts with an impassioned Igor even on the pitch as Harry Kane squared to Pierre who rifled home.

Whilst Les Olympiens exited in the group stage, their domestic form remained strong as they knocked Paris Saint-Germain out of the Coupe de France and went on to secure Champions League qualification in third spot.

Second Italian stint

He left the Stade Velodrome of his own accord at the end of the campaign and spent a few months out of management until Lazio came calling in March to turn things around towards the end of 2023/24.

Igor's impact was immediate. His opening game in charge saw them score a stoppage-time winner to beat Juventus and, although his former side knocked them out in the Coppa Italia semi-finals (winning 3-2 on aggregate), his only league defeat was a 1-0 to city rivals Roma as they climbed to seventh to secure a Europa League spot.

Following his departure from Lazio in the summer, his next role came a year after taking over at Stadio Olimpico when he went back to the Bianconeri in March 2024, only this time to lead the men’s first team.

The Old Lady were fifth at the time and four teams sat within four points of each other vying for the final Champions League spot in fourth. Juventus secured it - Randal Kolo Muani on target in their crucial 3-2 success over Venezia on the final day - as they only lost once in his nine league games in charge that term.

Two goals in each half gave our Under-18s a dominant win at Arsenal to move to within two points of the top of the table on Tuesday.

A clinical opener from Reiss Elliott-Parris was added to by George Feeney as we opened up a 2-0 lead inside 19 minutes at London Colney, with Feeney doubling his tally at the start of an impressive second-half showing to put the game out of the Gunners’ reach.

Emerson Nwaneri capitalised on a mistake at the back to get Arsenal off the mark against the run of play in the 84th minute, but Miracle Adewole quickly replied with his first goal of the season on the counter-attack to round off a superb 4-1 win.

The result saw us close the gap to leaders Chelsea at the top of the Under-18 Premier League’s southern division, although the Blues have two games still in hand.

Oliver Boast’s tireless running down the right side caused Arsenal all manner of problems throughout the game and after an early low delivery bound for Elliott-Parris in the middle was well cut out by defender Angelinou Pedro, it was he who did well to stay on his feet under a challenge as he pushed forward through the middle of the pitch before playing in Elliott-Parris, who finished low into the bottom corner to give us a sixth-minute lead.

Goalkeeper Dylan Thompson made a vital block to prevent Brando Bailey-Joseph from getting the hosts back on level terms shortly afterwards, with our second goal subsequently strengthening our grip on the game as Tye Hall’s excellent raking pass from deep was well controlled by Feeney, who carried it wide of goalkeeper Khari Ranson before finishing expertly from a tight angle.

Ceadach O’Neill cracked a long-range effort against the crossbar as Arsenal went close to a reply, but we kept them largely at bay for the remainder of the first half before producing an excellent second-half display to take the game away from them. Indeed, we started with purpose after the break and after Adewole fired over with a good chance after more good work on the right from Boast, Feeney doubled his tally with a right-footed shot from 18 yards out in the 48th minute to further stretch our advantage.

Adewole’s low shot was kept out by Ranson and substitute Armend Muslika whistled a low drive beyond the far post after a fine diagonal pass from Tyler Tingey as we dominated proceedings, although a sloppy mistake in defence allowed Nwaneri an opening to pull one back for the Gunners with six minutes remaining. We got straight back on the front foot, though, and after dealing with an Arsenal corner, Adewole ran clean through on goal from inside our own half to complete a resounding win. It could have been even more in truth, Elliott-Parris with two chances in stoppage time that went begging, but we’d done more than enough as our unbeaten run at this level extended into a sixth game.

‘We arguably should have scored more’

Under-18s Coach Jamie Carr, who took charge of his first game in the reverse fixture at Hotspur Way back in November, was particularly pleased with how we performed after half-time: “I thought the second-half performance was strong and we looked like the team that was going to create more opportunities to score,” he reflected. “In previous weeks, we’ve probably been a bit critical around not having that threat in the final third, whereas if you look at the second half today, we had loads of opportunities and arguably should have scored a few more. Overall, it’s a pleasing performance.”

On tasting north London derby victory, he added: “You sensed in the build-up to the game how much emphasis the players put on the derby, especially as they’ve grown up playing against this group of Arsenal players for years. Some of them know each other – Tyler Tingey was telling me he went to school with one of their players – so they’ve been around each other for a long time, meaning there’s that added factor that adds even more spice to the game. I think that’s important because it prepares them for big games in future.”

Igor Tudor will give everything he can to the team to get us moving in the right direction.

Appointed on Saturday as our Men’s Head Coach on a contract until the end of the season, Igor has joined us with a clear task in hand: to improve performances, deliver results and move us up the Premier League table.

He is well aware of the challenge in front of him, especially considering the injury situation within the squad – 10 players missed our last outing through injury while captain Cristian Romero will not return to action until mid-March as he continues to serve a four-match suspension. However, Igor is a coach who has been tasked with changing fortunes before and it is something he has been able to effect almost everywhere he has been appointed.

His work begins in earnest. He arrives with just a matter of days until the north London derby at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. So, as he looks to make an immediate impact and impression, what will be our new Head Coach’s approach to the challenge in front of him in N17?

“The first priority is to give everything the team needs in these moments,” he explained as he spoke to SPURSPLAY for the first time. “The team needs, I believe, first of all, to get some confidence, to get some courage, but also in the same way, the concrete things in the pitch.

“Of course, I'm coming here knowing the situation. There is no time to find excuses. What I said from the first day here, each of us, each of the players, needs to give something, something more, something extra, because the position of the Club in this moment is not (one) that anybody can accept - every fan of Tottenham (Hotspur) cannot accept the situation. We are aware of that, but it's not enough to just be aware of that.”

“The situation is not easy because, as you know better than me, we have a lot of injured players, so, we need first to find the best system that suits the players that are available at this moment. So, (it is) a very particular moment.

“Maybe this can sound strange, but I believe that the thing that we need to be focused on is the training. So, the training from today, that's the key, because, as I always like to say, Sunday and the game is a consequence of the training. So, that needs to be focused. The coach needs to show the path, where is the way we want to go, how we want to go, and the players need to accept this and together we, in this way, we prepare - preparing during the week is the best thing for Sunday.”

Watch - Igor Tudor's first interview

Les Ferdinand - 'Sir Les' - will be inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame during a special ceremony at the Museum in Manchester today (Tuesday 17 February).

The date holds particular significance, marking the anniversary of his England debut in 1995, a match in which he also scored his first international goal. His induction follows public voting in 2025, reflecting the esteem in which he is held by football supporters across generations.

A Spurs fan, Les achieved every schoolboy's dream when he signed for his boyhood club alongside David Ginola from Newcastle United in the summer of 1997.

Things didn't initially go as planned in that first season as we battled relegation. However, those testing days turned into a trophy at Wembley the following season as we lifted the League Cup in 1999, Les started the final against Leicester. That was the highlight Spurs for Les, who readily admits that his time in N17 was tough, often laid low by injury, as he scored 39 goals in his 149 appearances in all competitions before moving to West Ham in January, 2003.

Renowned as one of the most complete centre-forwards of the Premier League era, Les enjoyed an outstanding playing career spanning more than two decades. He scored 149 Premier league goals in 351 games for us and the likes of QPR, Newcastle, West Ham and Leicester. A part of Kevin Keegan's team of the mid-1990s, Les fired Newcastle to successive second-place finishes in the Premier League - scoring 50 goals in 84 games for the Toon. He was named PFA Players' Player of the Year in 1995/96. He earned 17 caps for England.

Off The Shelf podcast | Les Ferdinand

Les returned to the club in 2008, initially as striking coach and then part of out development coaching team alongside Tim Sherwood and Chris Ramsey, overseeing the development of a number of players who not only went on to play for Spurs, but also represent England - the likes of Harry Kane, Andros Townsend, Jake Livermore, Danny Rose, Ryan Mason and Steven Caulker.

He left us in 2014 and went on to become QPR's Director of Football, a role he held for eight years.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Les said: “It’s an absolute honour to be inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame alongside some of the great players and managers that have graced the premier league! Football has been such a big part of my life, and to have my career recognised in this way — especially on the anniversary of my England debut — means a great deal to me. I’m also proud to be able to donate an object to the Museum and contribute to telling the story of the game for future generations.”

Speaking on our Off The Shelf podcast back in 2023, Les told us what it meant to join Spurs - his boyhood club...

"I often say to people, when I talk about my career, and people talk about dreaming about being a professional footballer and ask, 'do dreams come true?' And I say, well, my dream came true because I played for the team that I supported as a boy. That first day, you know... I'd always played against Spurs, and I'd actually done alright against Spurs in terms of scoring goals, but this is where I wanted to come and this is where I wanted to score goals, and that part of it was probably the biggest disappointment for me because I picked up lots of niggly little injuries while I was here. If there was one club that I wanted to come to and continue my goalscoring, it was here, but the team wasn't quite where it needed to be and, like I said, I picked up a lot of injuries, so that part of it was a disappointment, but pulling on the Tottenham shirt and walking out at White Hart Lane... I always remember speaking to the late Gary Speed one day, who had played against Tottenham and he said to me, 'of all the grounds I play in, this is my favourite ground' and I said, well, it's been mine for donkey's years! We were having a chuckle as we were walking out and there were a lot of players back in the day who loved playing at White Hart Lane, and I was no different. I just wish I'd scored more goals here."

One of our great players of the modern era, Jan was back in N17 for a weekend of nostalgia with his family that included a trip up the Dare Skywalk, speaking to his adoring fans at half-time and watching us come back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 against Manchester City - and an exclusive interview for us with presenter and Spurs fan, Ben Haines.

One of only 17 players to reach 200-plus appearances for us in the Premier League and one of only 10 to make over 50 appearances for us in Europe, Jan is also Belgium's record appearance maker with 157 caps between 2007-2024, including winning bronze at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Forming a formidable central defensive partnership with compatriot Toby Alderweireld, Jan made 120 appearances of a possible 152 as we finished third, runners-up, third and fourth in the Premier League between 2015/16 and 2018/19. He also started 10 of 13 matches as we reached the UEFA Champions League Final against Liverpool in 2019, producing one of the great performances topped with a goal as we beat Borussia Dortmund 3-0 in the Round of 16, first leg at Wembley.

Jan signed off with appearance 315 against Newcastle during the Premier League's return in the 2020 COVID pandemic at St James’ Park on 15 July, 2020. Sadly, there were no fans at his final matches in Lilywhite – making his appearance at half-time with Paul Coyte all the more special.

After Spurs, he had spells at Benfica - where he won the Primeira Liga title in 2022/23 - and Anderlecht, where he played for two seasons before retiring at the end of 2024/25.

Part 5 | Retirement, coaching, the future – and the fans

How is retirement treating you? Are you missing playing? Are you enjoying having more time with your kids and your family?

Jan: “I was very lucky that I had to retire. It was a clear path. It was not like Anderlecht didn't want to renew my contract or they didn't look at me as still being good enough. It was a relief, because I played five or six games in a year last season and it was a real struggle.”

Mentally?

Jan: “Physically, and because of that mentally, I was the captain of the club. They paid my wages, I felt responsible towards the fans, the president, the coach, my team-mates, and I couldn't fulfil that. That was tough on me. In the last game I started, my family was there, I said, ‘I'm going to play this game and I'm going to give everything’. There was a very nice moment with my daughter. I didn't cry. I didn't cry because I was so happy. It was such a relief for me to come off the pitch because of my ankles and Achilles. It was just a relief, and I've been very happy since. Coming here to Spurs to watch the game, training ground, stadium tour, pictures on the wall, talking about it - that makes me miss it. Apart from that, I just told my boys who are with me today in the car, I wish you were at the age and I was still playing here. Then you could come here and watch me play. They've seen me play at Anderlecht, of course, on the national team. That would be even more special.”

Tell us about your coaching journey… how are you finding it?

Jan: “I've got my badges, but I have to disappoint, I'm not going to continue yet on that path. If I see what it requires, it's 24-7, it's non-stop. It's maybe not a good thing to say, but being a good dad, the dad I want to be, the husband I want to be, and being a coach, and the time and the responsibility that requires, the demands, I cannot see it. I don't know how anyone manages it. Whenever I see it, it doesn't matter what walk of life or what sport, it looks like a total life dedication. You give everything, absolutely everything. Even being here… I spent all weekend in London and at Spurs. You can't do that when you're a football player, but you definitely can't do it when you're a coach. I enjoy these things too much. I will work and I am working, but if I see these guys stressed out and everything… I do lots of other things - I've got my badges and I'm happy. It's important to know what you want, but it's important to know what you don't want, even more.”

How special is it to have that moment of reconnection with the fans?

Jan: “It was a special time because (when Jan left Spurs) it was COVID, first lockdown, and then I wasn't playing. We played our last game at Palace, the last game of the season and it was still to get into Europe. The coach didn't put me on, and he was right not to. There were no fans, and it was an away game, so I wasn't angry at all. I've played five more years after that and never had the opportunity to come back because we’ve had to play on weekends and we played in Europe. It's truly very special to do that and to do that with my kids.”

We can confirm that our Women’s Under-19s Capital Cup clash against Dulwich Hamlet has now been rearranged.

Our first round tie at Champion Hill, which was postponed at the weekend, will now take place on Sunday 1 March, kick-off at 2pm UK.

Supporters will be able to attend the fixture against Dulwich, with tickets priced at £5.30 for adults (aged 18-64), £2.80 for Concessions (aged 65 and over) and free for Under-13s.

Signe Gaupset and Cathinka Tandberg told us there’s more to come after the duo were at the heart of our sensational 7-3 win at Aston Villa on Sunday.

That will be music to fans’ ears after the Norwegian pair were involved in four of our seven goals at Villa Park, which included Signe getting off the mark in Lilywhite with a sharp finish on her left foot to open the scoring in the early stages of the contest.

Tinka then stepped off the bench on 67 minutes and, just two minutes later, she powered home a strike from the edge of the box to hand us a 4-2 lead at the time. Signe then provided the assist - a lovely ball with the outside of her right foot – to set up Maika Hamano’s goal before Tinka netted her second of the game with a clinical first-time effort into the bottom corner.

With Signe opening her account for the Club and Tinka back with a brace after a spell on the sidelines with injury, the pair – who have played alongside each other throughout Norway’s youth sides – outlined that you can expect even ‘more to come’ in the next few months.

Asked about finally sharing a pitch together in Lilywhite, Tinka said: “I enjoy it a lot, but we haven't started yet,” before Signe followed with: “We have just started now so more to come.

“We showed a good performance and, of course, when we score seven goals, that's really good. There are moments we can learn from this game as well, but a good feeling towards next week so we're really happy,” our number eight added.

Reflecting on her first goal for Spurs, Signe said: “I'm really happy to get my first goal and I've been waiting some time for that, but [I’m] just really happy and it was fun to play. We played well and it opened up a lot of space for me, particularly central, as I like. We had some really good moments and good play and scored some nice goals.”

Tinka’s brace against Villa saw her tally for the season rise to six in the WSL – who is now our leading goalscorer in the competition this term – and the forward spoke about being back with team and, obviously, scoring goals in Lilywhite.

“I'm a striker so all I want to do is score goals and I think this was good for me,” she told us. “I've been waiting for this, being injured is, of course, boring but coming back and scoring goals is what I love, so it's good to be back with the team and getting three points.”

Watch | Cathinka Tandberg's brace