From Arsenal top Tottenham, the Jamie O’Hara story
Tottenham Hotspur hero Jamie O’Hara has spoken about his journey from being in Arsenal’s Hale End academy to playing for Spurs. He is one of those players who has been quite vocal about his time at N17 and has spoken out on the love that he has received from Spurs faithful.
The 37-year-old has been a part of Arsenal’s academy during his formative years and was regarded as one of the hottest young prospects in the country during his time at Hale End. However, following a falling out with then Gunners academy director Liam Brady, he moved over to the other side of town in Tottenham, the club he’d supported since he was a boy.
Arsenal offered Jamie a professional contract when he was seventeen; however, Brady told the then-17-year-old that he would not get into the first team setup until he reached twenty-one years of age, which prompted O’Hara to leave the Gunners.
Jamie was a hot prospect when he joined the Lilywhites, with the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, and even the mighty Real Madrid offering him trials when he was a free agent following his time at Arsenal. Though he opted to join Spurs owing to his loyalty to the North London Whites.
Jamie O’Hara’s journey across the North London divide
Speaking on the Ben Heath Podcast, Jamie O’Hara said:
“I was the best player [at Arsenal]. “I believed I was going to play for them. They were the best side with the best academy. Arsenal loved me, I was the one everywhere was talking about who was coming through and was going to be [their next star].”
“I thought I was ready, I wasn’t ready, but I didn’t want to get held back… I didn’t want to wait four years.”
“I was a Tottenham fan. I used to train at Arsenal in a Tottenham shirt.
“I never wanted to leave home; I lost my mom at 17, and she was going through cancer at the time, so Tottenham was the perfect opportunity. But the funny thing is, I went to Tottenham based on the fact I didn’t want to wait until I was 21 to make my debut for Arsenal, but I didn’t make my Tottenham debut until I was 21 (laughs).”
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He made his Tottenham debut in the 2007–08 season and became an important part of the squad under Juande Ramos; however, he soon found himself on the bench under Harry Redknapp before he decided to leave.
