We all know that Spurs has had plenty of experience on the European stage – some better than others. Here, we take a look at some of their greatest European performances.
1. 1963 – UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup Champions
Let’s go back a few years… to 1963 when Tottenham became the first British club to win a major European trophy – lifting the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. Under the management of Bill Nicholson, they faced off against Atlético Madrid in the final in Rotterdam… and won.
It was beautiful to watch for fans, as Tottenham completely dominated the game, enjoying a 5-1 victory against the Spanish side. Thanks to goals from Jimmy Greaves (2), Terry Dyson (2), and John White, they sealed their place in history.
2. 1972 – UEFA Cup Winners
The 1971–72 season saw the inaugural UEFA Cup competition – and Tottenham made history again by becoming its first-ever winners. They faced off against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the all-English final played over two legs.
It was a tight one – but Spurs managed to secure a 2-1 victory in the first leg at Molineux, thanks to goals from Martin Chivers. Then, in the second leg at White Hart Lane, they got a 1-1 draw which was enough for Tottenham to claim the trophy with a 3-2 aggregate win.
3. 1984 – UEFA Cup Win
The team’s second UEFA Cup triumph came over a decade later, in the 1983–84 season, topped off by a very dramatic final against Anderlecht, where the winner was determined by a penalty shoot-out.
After a 1-1 draw in both legs, the second leg at White Hart Lane went to penalties. Fortunately, Spurs managed to hold their nerve and goalkeeper Tony Parks made a decisive save that secured their 4-3 victory.
4. 2019 – Champions League Final Run
Spurs fans these days don’t often get to partake in Champions League betting – but they got some serious action in 2018–19, which was one of Tottenham’s most thrilling European adventures in recent history. Under Mauricio Pochettino, Spurs managed to reach their first-ever Champions League final.
To get there, they had an epic semi final clash against Ajax – going down 3-0 on aggregate at halftime in the second leg. However, Lucas Moura pulled out a sensational second-half hat-trick – including a last-minute winner and secured them a 3-2 victory on the night and they got through on away goals.
They went on to face Liverpool in the final in Madrid but fell short, losing 2-0.
5. 1962 – European Cup Semi Final
Spurs’ first foray into the European Cup – now the Champions League, was all the way back in the 1961–62 season after they enjoyed a domestic double-winning campaign. They ended up reaching the semifinals, where they faced the mighty Benfica.
Despite a solid performance, they ended up losing 4-3 on aggregate to the eventual champions. They followed their 3-1 defeat in Lisbon with a 2-1 victory at White Hart Lane, but it wasn’t quite enough to overturn the deficit. However, this was just a taste of what was to come.
6. 2010 – The Arrival of Gareth Bale
Tottenham’s 2010–11 Champions League campaign saw them return to Europe’s biggest competition after decades away. One of the most memorable moments happened during the group stage – when they played Inter Milan at the San Siro.
Despite losing 4-3, this was when Gareth Bale announced himself on the European stage – with that amazing hat-trick against the reigning champions… stunning Inter’s defence and leaving quite the impression. It was then he truly became a global superstar.
7. 1974 – UEFA Cup Finalists
Finally, older fans will remember when Spurs came a hair’s-breadth away from retaining their UEFA Cup title in 1974 but just fell short in the final against Feyenoord. After managing a 2-2 draw in the first leg at White Hart Lane, they went on to lose 2-0 in Rotterdam.
Although they didn’t quite win, this was a sign that Tottenham would be a consistent contender in European competition during the 1970s.
Conclusion
They might not have had quite as much success recently, but you can’t deny that the club’s history in Europe has been impressive. Hopefully, one day, they’ll add another victory to the list!
