Tottenham may not have won much in recent years, but they are undeniably one of the most successful teams in the English Premier League. The club has had many great moments, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, winning multiple English First Division titles, FA Cups, and a UEFA Cup. In fact, they were the first team in the country to win the Double in the 20th century. However, like all big clubs, Spurs have also gone through difficult periods, from being relegated to missing out on major trophies they were so close to winning and losing top league positions to bitter rivals. In this article, we’ll look back at some of the best and worst moments in Tottenham’s history.
The Highs
Winning the First Division Title in 1951
Spurs won their first title in the English top flight only a year after getting promoted to the First Division. Managed by Arthur Rowe, the club was known for its possession-based playing style, known as ‘Push and Rush’. This tactic was very effective, as the club secured 25 wins, 10 draws, and just 7 losses to win the league in 1951. Some of the key players for Tottenham during that season were Alf Ramsey, Bill Nicholson, Ted Ditchburn, and Ronnie Burgess.
Completing the Double in 1961
In the 1960-61 season, Tottenham became the first English club to win the Double since the turn of the century. Bill Nicholson led the team to what is still their biggest achievement to date. Spurs dominated in the league, winning 31 out of their 42 matches to lift the trophy. They then capped it off with a 2-0 victory against Leicester City in the FA Cup final. Tottenham almost repeated the same feat in the following season by winning the FA Cup again, but unfortunately finished third in the league.
Winning the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup
Tottenham was the first club in England to win a European trophy. They won the 1963 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, the second most prestigious competition in Europe at the time. Spurs beat Rangers in the First Round and then eliminated Slovan Bratislava and OFK Beograd to reach the final. They played against Athletico Madrid in the final, thrashing them 5-1.
Reaching the Quarterfinals of the 2010-11 Champions League
Tottenham shocked everyone in the 2010-11 Champions League season. Playing in the competition for the first time, the club topped their difficult group, which consisted of Inter Milan, Werder Bremen, and FC Twente. They then beat seven-time winner AC Milan 1-0 in the Round of 16 to progress into the next stage. However, Spurs were sent home in the quarterfinals by a strong Real Madrid side, which thrashed them 5-0 on aggregate.
The Lows
Relegating in 1978
One of the darkest moments in Tottenham’s history was the club’s relegation in 1978. Spurs started that season poorly with a 3-1 loss to Ipswich, followed by a 2-0 defeat at home against Newcastle United. The bad form continued for most of the season, with the Londoners finishing at the bottom of the table with just 33 points. However, Tottenham only spent a year in the Second Division before gaining promotion to the English top-flight, where they truly belong.
Losing the 2019 Champions League Final
The defeat in the 2019 Champions League final still haunts many Tottenham supporters. The club had performed well in the competition that season, finishing second in a group that had Barcelona, Inter Milan, and PSV Eindhoven. They then eliminated Borussia Dortmund, Manchester City, and Ajax to reach the final for the first time. Unfortunately, Tottenham lost 2-0 to Liverpool in the final. The team’s performance dropped significantly after this defeat, leading to the sack of the head coach, Mauricio Pochettino.
Getting Knocked out of the Europa League After a Two-Goal Advantage
Another disappointing moment was Tottenham’s exit in the 2021 UEFA Europa League. The club had won 2-0 against Dinamo Zagreb in the first leg of their Round of 16 matches and were in a strong position to move to the next stage. But the Croatian club turned the tie around in the second leg. Mislav Oršić scored all three goals to give Dinamo a 3-0 victory, allowing them to win 3-2 on aggregate and progress into the quarterfinals.
The Lasagna-Gate Incident
Tottenham missed out on the Champions League in 2006 due to a food poisoning incident known as the Lasagna-Gate. The club was in fourth place going into the last match of the season and only needed to match Arsenal’s result on the final day to secure their position. However, many Spurs players suffered from food poisoning after eating lasagna the night before the match. As a result, Tottenham had to use a weak team, which lost 2-1 to West Ham. Meanwhile, Arsenal won their own game 4-2 against Wigan and clinched the fourth position.
Conclusion
Tottenham have had many good and bad moments throughout their history. From winning multiple trophies to being relegated and losing cup finals and top spots, the North London club has seen it all. Some of these wins and losses mentioned above were so extensive that they have been reviewed by experts, just like the best and worst casino sites are. Although Spurs have been inconsistent in the league this season, they have just qualified for the semi-finals of the FA Cup, which may be a good chance to end their trophy drought after so many years.
