Club Profile: Tottenham Hotspurs – Manager Harry Redknapp Guides Spurs to Success in Premier League
Tottenham Hotspurs are a professional football club based in North London, England. The club is referred to as either Tottenham or just Spurs. Spurs play their home games at the White Hart Lane, which seats just over thirty six thousand fans. The club has announced plans for a new stadium, seating close to sixty thousand fans, in hopes of competing with other large English clubs, who generate much more revenue through ticket sales than Spurs do.
The Club is owned by a British investment company known as ENIC International Ltd. Daniel Levy is the Executive Chairman of the club and has been credited with the revival of the club in recent times, which has happened due to huge amounts of investment in the squad, coaches and training facilities.
Tottenham have several rivalries within London with the likes of West Ham and Chelsea but their biggest rivalry, by far, has been with Arsenal. The match between Arsenal and Spurs every year is one of the most eagerly awaited fixtures in the footballing calendar, and is very passionately contested. The match is known as the North London Derby. In recent times, Arsenal have dominated the derby games between the two clubs, and have done better in general too, in domestic as well as European competitions.
Spurs became the first English club to complete the League and F.A. Cup double when, in 1961, they lifted both trophies to the immense joy of their supporters. Tottenham were also the first British club to win a major European trophy with a victory in the European Cup Winner's Cup in 1963. The 60s was a very good decade for the club, as is evident from their success both on the domestic and European front.
The 70s proved to be fruitful as well, as Spurs lifted the first ever UEFA Cup trophy in 1972. Domestically, though, the club only won two league cups during the decade and couldn't secure a league title of an FA Cup victory. The next decade proved to be a little better in this regard, as the club lifted several trophies: lifting the FA Cup twice and the UEFA Cup once again in 1984, and also winning the community shield. The club suffered a decline of sorts after the 80s, only winning an FA Cup and two League cups in two decades, including last season.
For a long time, the club struggled to mount a serious challenge for any honours, or even finish in the top four. This was a prolonged period of mediocrity, with a number of managers being replaced and an odd relegation scare. The last season, though, proved to be somewhat of a success, as the club finished 4th and secured a Champions League place. Under their new manager, Harry Redknapp, the club has been transformed into serious top four contenders, and might even be league title challengers in a few years.
Tottenham have one of the strongest squads in the Barclays Premier League, including the likes of Luka Modric, Jermain Defoe, Aaron Lennon, Niko Kranjcar, Vedran Corluka, and their new Brazilian wonder-kid, Sandro. The Club is considered on the way up due to the young squad they possess, with a number of promising players who look like they will fulfil their potential. Next season will be all about making it through the Champions League qualifiers and consolidating their fourth place finish from this season. With the talent at their disposal, Spurs should do just fine if they hold their nerve and show the kind of passion they did last season.
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