The departure of Eric Dier on Thursday marked yet another moment where Tottenham Hotspur said goodbye to one of its longest-serving players.
For all the talk of Spurs becoming an increasingly younger squad and identifying a new idea, we also have to talk about the reality of saying goodbye to players who’ve given us some of our happiest memories watching football.
Here are the players we have said goodbye to since the end of last season, with their time at the club in parentheses:
- Harry Winks (2002 – 2023)
- Harry Kane (2004 – 2023)
- Hugo Lloris (2012 – 2024)
- Eric Dier (2014 – 2024)
All of these players spent most or the entirey of their adulthood at Spurs. Two of them – Winks and Kane – spent most of their childhood here too.
We see the farewell videos. We see unrepetent criticism for some of these players fade away, only to be replaced by recountences of sweet memories during happier days.
Speaking personally, all four of these departed players have brought me some of my happiest days. Winks against West Ham. Kane against Arsenal (and many more). Lloris against Manchester City. Dier against Chelsea.
Of course, as we dig into our memories and pull forth some magical moment (like Hugo Lloris on March 1, 2019) we also remember others along the way. Christian Eriksen, Mousa Dembele, Jan Vertonghen, Emmanuel Adebayor, Nacer Chadli. Hell, Tim Sherwood.
Players like Winks, Kane, Lloris and Dier are a part of what make sports so great. As fans we want to connect with the club. We want to feel like we are Spurs.
When we look at Winks, Kane, Lloris and Dier we never questioned whether or not they were Spurs. Cumulatively, the four of them had spent roughly 60 years at Tottenham.
As we say goodbye, we also experience one of the hardest parts of the game. We’ll miss the great moments, their heart, the discourse amongst ourselves.
What we are left with when they leave, then, are kits, old footage, perhaps a picture or two. But most of all, we’ll have our memories.
I will back on them fondly.
Fitzie’s track of the day: Free, by Florence + The Machine
And now for your links:
Charlie Eccleshare ($$) on why Dier is one of the most important players in Spurs’ recent history
Dan KP: Why Tottenham signed Radu Dragusin
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson diagnosed with cancer