History of Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, commonly known as Spurs, was founded in 1882 by a group of schoolboys in North London. The club turned professional in 1895 and, in 1901, made history by becoming the first and only non-league team to win the FA Cup since the formation of the Football League.
The club’s most successful period came under the management of Bill Nicholson in the 1960s. During this time, Spurs became the first team in the 20th century to achieve “The Double,” winning both the First Division title and the FA Cup in the 1960-61 season. They also became the first British team to win a major European trophy when they lifted the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963.
Tottenham Hotspur was a founding member of the Premier League in 1992. The club has since established itself as a regular contender for European qualification. The club’s most recent major trophy was the UEFA Europa League in 2025, where they defeated Manchester United in the final with a 1-0 victory.
Club Honors
Tottenham Hotspur has secured a number of major honors throughout its history, showcasing a rich tradition of success across domestic and European competitions.
- English League Titles: 2 (1950–51, 1960–61)
- FA Cup: 8 (1901, 1921, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1981, 1982, 1991)
- League Cup: 4 (1971, 1973, 1999, 2008)
- UEFA Cup / Europa League: 3 (1972, 1984, 2025)
- European Cup Winners’ Cup: 1 (1963)
- FA Charity Shield / Community Shield: 7 (1921, 1951, 1961, 1962, 1967*, 1981*, 1991*) *Shared titles
Famous Players
Tottenham Hotspur has been home to many legendary players throughout its history. Some of the most notable names include:
- Jimmy Greaves (England, Forward): A club legend and one of England’s greatest-ever strikers, he held the record for most goals for Spurs until it was surpassed by Harry Kane.
- Danny Blanchflower (Northern Ireland, Midfielder): A visionary captain and midfielder who led the iconic “Double” winning team of 1961.
- Glenn Hoddle (England, Midfielder): A highly skilled and creative midfielder known for his passing and vision, he is a true Spurs legend.
- Steve Perryman (England, Defender/Midfielder): The club’s record appearance holder, a versatile and dedicated player who epitomized the team’s spirit for over a decade.
- Gareth Bale (Wales, Winger): A Welsh winger who became a global superstar during his time at the club, known for his incredible pace and spectacular goals.
- Harry Kane (England, Forward): The prolific striker and former club captain who surpassed Jimmy Greaves to become the club’s all-time leading goal scorer before his departure.
Managerial History
Tottenham has had a long and varied list of managers, with some leaving an indelible mark on the club’s history. Here is a comprehensive list of all permanent managers since the club’s professional beginnings:
- Frank Brettell (1898–1899)
- John Cameron (1899–1907): Guided Spurs to their first FA Cup win in 1901.
- Fred Kirkham (1907–1908)
- Peter McWilliam (1912–1927, 1938–1942): Won the FA Cup in 1921.
- Billy Minter (1927–1929)
- Percy Smith (1929–1935)
- Jack Tresadern (1935–1938)
- Arthur Turner (1942–1946)
- Joe Hulme (1946–1949)
- Arthur Rowe (1949–1955): Won the First Division title in 1951.
- Jimmy Anderson (1955–1958)
- Bill Nicholson (1958–1974): The club’s most successful manager, winning 12 major trophies including “The Double” and the first European trophy for a British club.
- Terry Neill (1974–1976)
- Keith Burkinshaw (1976–1984): Won two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup.
- Peter Shreeves (1984–1986)
- David Pleat (1986–1987)
- Terry Venables (1987–1991): Won the FA Cup in 1991.
- Peter Shreeves (1991–1992)
- Doug Livermore & Ray Clemence (1992–1993): Served as joint managers.
- Osvaldo Ardiles (1993–1994)
- Gerry Francis (1994–1997)
- Christian Gross (1997–1998)
- George Graham (1998–2001): Won the League Cup in 1999.
- Glenn Hoddle (2001–2003)
- David Pleat (2003–2004) (caretaker)
- Jacques Santini (2004)
- Martin Jol (2004–2007)
- Juande Ramos (2007–2008): Won the League Cup in 2008.
- Harry Redknapp (2008–2012): Led the team to the UEFA Champions League for the first time.
- André Villas-Boas (2012–2013)
- Tim Sherwood (2013–2014)
- Mauricio Pochettino (2014–2019): Guided the club to a Champions League Final and a sustained period of top-four finishes.
- José Mourinho (2019–2021)
- Nuno Espírito Santo (2021)
- Antonio Conte (2021–2023)
- Ange Postecoglou (2023–2025): Ended the club’s long-standing trophy drought by winning the UEFA Europa League in 2025. He was sacked shortly after due to poor league form.
- Thomas Frank (2025–present): Appointed in June 2025.
The Current Squad and Manager
The current squad is managed by Thomas Frank, who was appointed in June 2025. The club’s captain is Cristian Romero, with James Maddison serving as a vice-captain.
Goalkeepers
- Guglielmo Vicario (Italy, Goalkeeper)
- Antonín Kinský (Czech Republic, Goalkeeper)
- Brandon Austin (England, Goalkeeper)
Defenders
- Radu Drăgușin (Romania, Centre-Back)
- Kevin Danso (Austria, Centre-Back)
- Destiny Udogie (Italy, Left Wing-Back)
- Cristian Romero (Argentina, Centre-Back) (C)
- Pedro Porro (Spain, Right Wing-Back)
- Djed Spence (England, Right Wing-Back)
- Ben Davies (Wales, Centre-Back/Left-Back)
- Micky van de Ven (Netherlands, Centre-Back)
- Kōta Takai (Japan, Centre-Back)
- Luka Vušković (Croatia, Centre-Back)
Midfielders
- João Palhinha (Portugal, Defensive Midfielder)
- Yves Bissouma (Mali, Defensive Midfielder)
- James Maddison (England, Attacking Midfielder) (VC)
- Archie Gray (England, Defensive Midfielder)
- Lucas Bergvall (Sweden, Central Midfielder)
- Mohammed Kudus (Ghana, Attacking Midfielder)
- Dejan Kulusevski (Sweden, Attacking Midfielder/Winger)
- Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal, Central Midfielder)
- Rodrigo Bentancur (Uruguay, Central Midfielder)
Forwards
- Richarlison (Brazil, Centre-Forward/Winger)
- Mathys Tel (France, Centre-Forward/Winger)
- Dominic Solanke (England, Centre-Forward)
- Brennan Johnson (Wales, Winger)
- Wilson Odobert (France, Winger)
- Manor Solomon (Israel, Winger) (injured)
- Bryan Gil (Spain, Winger)
- Dane Scarlett (England, Centre-Forward)
Tottenham Hotspur Women
Tottenham Hotspur Women, often referred to as Spurs Women, is the club’s professional women’s football team. Founded in 1985 as Broxbourne Ladies, they became affiliated with the men’s club in the early 1990s. The team’s biggest achievement was gaining promotion to the top tier of women’s football in England, the FA Women’s Super League (WSL), for the 2019-20 season. Spurs Women’s recent successes include finishing as runners-up in the Women’s FA Cup Final in 2024. They currently play their home matches at Brisbane Road, the home of Leyton Orient, and occasionally at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for high-profile fixtures.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Home Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Capacity: 62,850
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium stands on the same site as the club’s iconic former home, White Hart Lane, which was in use from 1899 to 2017. The new stadium, which opened in April 2019, is a state-of-the-art multi-purpose venue and the largest club stadium in London. It was designed to maximize the spectator experience, with the stands angled to be as steep as possible to bring fans closer to the pitch. It features a unique, fully retractable grass pitch for football, with a Turf Nation synthetic NFL field underneath, making it the first purpose-built home for NFL outside the U.S.
Owners and Investors
Tottenham Hotspur is primarily owned by ENIC International Ltd., a British investment company. ENIC acquired a controlling stake in the club in 2001 and has since increased its shareholding to 86.58% of the total issued shares. The club’s chairman is Daniel Levy, who has held the position since 2001 and is one of the longest-serving chairmen in the Premier League. The majority shareholder of ENIC is a family trust associated with Joe Lewis, with Daniel Levy and his family holding a significant minority stake.
Rivalries and Fan Culture
The club’s most intense rivalry is the North London Derby against Arsenal. This derby is one of the most fiercely contested in English football, rooted in geographical proximity and a long history of competitive matches. Other rivalries exist with Chelsea and West Ham United.
Tottenham’s fans are known for their passionate and vocal support, with the famous chant “Glory, Glory, Tottenham Hotspur” being an anthem that echoes throughout the stadium. The club’s motto, Audere est Facere (“To Dare is to Do”), reflects a long-standing philosophy of playing attractive, attacking football, often referred to by fans as the “Spurs Way.” The fan base’s identity has also been shaped by the “Yid Army” chant, a term that has drawn controversy and has been a topic of much discussion, with the club actively taking a stance against its use to avoid any antisemitic connotations.
