Gareth Bale, he was born to play for....Atour Toma makes his debut on The Fighting Cock and asks the question: Is Bale a Spurs legend? Agree, disagree? Read before commenting, It helps.
Is Gareth Bale a Spurs legend?
In recent times, the term “legend” has come to be grossly overused. However I am not one to use it lightly. I’ve increasingly started interacting with fellow Spurs fans over the last few months via social media. One of the debates that has divided opinion the most is the answer to a simple question – Is Gareth Bale a Spurs legend?
Some claim that he is, describing him as the best player Spurs have had for decades. Others, no doubt recalling his protracted transfer to Real Madrid and all the rumours that came with it, insist that he is not.
Personally I am in the first camp. I make no apologies when I say that he is the best player I have seen at Spurs in my lifetime (30-something years and counting). During his time at the club he developed into one of the top 10 footballers in the world.
For two or three years, he almost single-handedly won us game, after game, after game with sublime moments of magic, while powering us to a Champions League quarter final in the process facing the likes of Internazionale, AC Milan and Real Madrid along the way. Undoubtedly he was the catalyst for some of Spurs’ most memorable moments in recent memory.
[linequote]He almost single-handedly won us game, after game, after game with sublime moments of magic[/linequote]
Anyone who attended matches at the Lane regularly during this time will know the sense of excitement and anticipation that used to infect the crowd whenever he picked up the ball and advanced towards the opposition goal. It was no different to the buzz that was brought on by Ginola or Waddle, Gazza or Hoddle.
He eventually moved for a world record transfer fee and this was through no coincidence or accident. He was – and still is – an amazing player and I am confident that he will be a future Ballon D’or winner. I am immensely proud that he spent some of his best years playing for Tottenham Hotspur. His time at the club has come to an end (for now), but I am prepared to forgive his desire to move as payback for all the good times he’s allowed me to experience as a fan.
So what are the cases against his status as a Spurs legend?
Many question his conduct at the time of this transfer and claim that he went “on strike” in order to get a move.
This despite the fact that:
- Spurs £104m spending spree in the months before his transfer suggest the deal with Madrid was agreed a long time before it was made official.
- He was almost certainly not being used in pre-season friendlies to avoid him getting injured, rather than him refusing to play.
- To this day there have been no direct quotes or reliable news reports that prove his conduct was anything but professional at the time. In fact, Daniel Levy, who doesn’t suffer fools gladly and is not afraid to go public with it, closed his official club statement at the time with the words “We wish Gareth all the best in the future and he shall always be welcome at the Lane” – hardly the remarks of someone who has been disrespected.
- He just doesn’t seem that sort of guy. (NB: This is just a personal opinion, but it’s as valid as anyone else’s).
In the end, every player moves on sooner or later. This is inevitable. Jennings joined Arsenal. Hoddle and Waddle moved abroad for European football. Gazza left for Lazio. Teddy went to Man Utd in search of trophies. I don’t think any Spurs fan would question these players status as club legends. Why is Bale not afforded this luxury? Is it because he’s still playing in another team’s kit? Will that view change once he retires?
[linequote]I am immensely proud that he spent some of his best years playing for Tottenham Hotspur[/linequote]
Gazza spent less time (4 years) at Spurs playing considerably less games (92 games) than Bale (6 years, 146 games) and achieving similar honours. Waddle, also, played less games than Bale (4 years, 138 games) and won nothing in the way of honours.
So why the bitterness when it comes to Bale and his perception amongst some Spurs fans? Is it due to the wall-to-wall sports media coverage these days that gradually wears down our affection towards our departing players? Is it the increased club tribalism these days that makes some of us hate any player that no longer wears our club colours?
Either way this is a sad reflection of the way that football is going and it doesn’t sit well with me. Only a handful of ex-Spurs players deserve the hostility that Bale gets from some quarters and he is certainly not one of them.
Whether we like it or not, Gareth Bale plays for another club now. While none of us can really begrudge him achieving a move to his dream club – and the current Champions League holders, I should add – it is understandable that some Spurs supporters may have little interest in his fortunes away from the Lane. But to disregard and forget the player he was while wearing our Lilywhite, is to disregard and forget the glorious way he played the game.
All views and opinions expressed in this article are the views and opinions of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of The Fighting Cock. We offer a platform for fans to commit their views to text and voice their thoughts. Football is a passionate game and as long as the views stay within the parameters of what is acceptable, we encourage people to write, get involved and share their thoughts on the mighty Tottenham Hotspur.
13 Comments
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12/09/2014 @ 1:22 pm
Nicely written article – thanks.
I’m not bitter about Bale. He’s a very, very good footballer and I enjoyed watching him play for Spurs.
I’m probably too old-fashioned but I think a true “legend” is someone iconic and charismatic who, through their football style and personality speaks to us about what we and our club stand for. They achieve for all of us, not just for themselves. This is not necessarily about trophies but they help.
Had Bale stayed longer and built on the great Champions League nights, he could have been a Spurs legend but for me he’s not.
12/09/2014 @ 1:46 pm
A great player, but as Nanty said he doesn’t quite enter into the same ranks as Hoddle and imo King. I don’t hate the lad for getting his move to Madrid, although I think the way it all went down at the time didn’t reflect kindly on him. He had his head turned and wanted the move, but Madrid played around with the amount they would offer us and Bale didn’t train/play during that period, despite being a Spurs player. Personally I felt he should’ve been doing so up until a fee was agreed, but instead he was ready to go long before Madrid offered us what we wanted (and no I don’t believe his foot injury was that bad).
Anyways back on track. I’d rate him as a legend if we had won something during his time with the club. That would’ve really put him up there. Realistically though, we only got half a season of World Class Bale. He was good before then but he wasn’t world top ten until he started cracking goals in left right and centre. If he’d had stayed another year then who knows, but for me he left too early to fall into the “legend” group.
12/09/2014 @ 2:03 pm
Hi Phil. Thanks for the comment.
So what are your thoughts on Klinsmann? We only got a season and a half out of him, and he couldn’t wait to move on both times.
12/09/2014 @ 3:25 pm
As others have said I think legend is a term reserved for those who have given everything for the club including their best years. They are players who become synonymous with the club. King is the only one I would give that accolade to from my time following the team followed by Dawson.
Klinsmann was a world footballing icon when he arrived at the lane. No-one could believe he had signed for us and his joining seemingly elevated the club. In his second spell he pretty much helped us avoid relegation. He was a leader and his personality seemed to go a long way to winning people over.
Bale on the other hand has his best years to come. His star started rising with us but he will likely be remembered for his achievements at Madrid and not at Spurs. He will be a Madrid legend without a doubt, but he left us too early on imo to be known as a Spurs legend. Perhaps the way the club got dragged around during the whole transfer debacle does sour it for me, but I’m not a hater. I still support the lad over there and do feel like he’s still a Spurs player, but I just don’t hold him in the same regard as I do King etc.
12/09/2014 @ 1:54 pm
Agreed. He was at spurs for 6 years yet played 2. He was courting foreign teams just after he called that taxi for maicon. Great player fully exciting to see but sadly for me a resounding no. Gazza yes he loved spurs would of stayed but we had to sell. The same with waddle. We needed the money. We was fully shit even with sheringham, ferdinand and ginola. Even stefan the football genius is a spurs legend. Spurs didn’t and dont need to be winning everything to have legends. I loved bale and was sick to see him go and our chance of real success to build around him. I would welcome him back along with modric but to call them legends nah not for me. Dawson, mabbutt, king, roberts shit I could go all day. Bring on the stadium players will be itching to play for us again. coys!
12/09/2014 @ 2:27 pm
Don’t listen too much to what the Internet fans have to say, if we qualified for the CL again and played Real Madrid I’m confident he’d get a cracking reception back at the Lane.
12/09/2014 @ 2:28 pm
not a legend, just one of the many great players that have graced the Lane down the years. His real purple patch in the second half of his last season is comparable to Waddle’s in 88/89, who also was winning games on his own in another season that ended up amounting to nothing. He also left for a large fee abroad and went onto become one of the best players in Europe and as much as I loved him he’s not a Spurs legend – that’s reserved for the likes of Hoddle, Perryman, Jennings and their counterparts in the 50 and 60s teams.
12/09/2014 @ 2:48 pm
in your very first line you say that you arent one for dishing out the title of ‘legend’ lightly but then you claim someone who is 24/25 is a legend!? hes far too young to be called that, anything can happen in the near future. what if he signs for the gooners in 2 years time and starts winning them countless trophies? would he still be a spurs legend then? i know that would definitely taint any memories i have of him!
before whoring himself out to Liverpool Robbie Keane was an undeniable spurs legend, now hes just a great finisher who thought he was bigger than THFC and he will always be tarnished in many peoples eyes.
let the lad finish his career before we start debates like this, he seems like a really down to earth lad and moving to madrid was a great opportunity for him, so i hold no grudges against him. when he scored in the champs league final it brought a smile to my face as playing in those big games and scoring the winning goals were the reasons why he left us in the first place. theres nothing more frustrating then to see your best player poached and then end up sitting on someone elses bench unappreciated. so to see him being the catalyst for la decima was heartening.
as far as im concerned Ledley King is the only real spurs legend from the past 10 years, coming through the ranks, playing through the pain barrier and sacreficing his body for the shirt, he would have played for us even if we just paid him his cab fare home.
there is a list of players who i feel, due to the number of years they represented us and the loyalty they have shown us will be in contention for the status of legend once they hang the boots up,
Daws (love or hate his ability, like ledley i always felt he would have played for nothing)
Defoe (criminally under used for years, never heard him kick up a fuss, spurs top european goal scorer and netted over 100 times for us, plus as the song says, hes a yido!)
Lennon (even im not sure about this one but 9 years at the club has to mean something, plus even if its only for ‘THAT GOAL’ against AC Milan in the last 16 of the champs league, i know crouchie tapped it in but that was 99.9% lennons goal!)
Bale can be added to that list purely for his ability (despite only really playing at a consistantly high level for the last half of the season before he jumped ship) and, i know he turned into a little moaner but, Modric aswell. i would suggest that Modric is the best footballer ive seen at the lane in recent years. Bale was destructive, could win games on his own, modric made the whole team better, he was a metronome, he is responsible for the best period of football ive seen tottenham play in my lifetime (im only 25 so dont have that much to compare it too) and we still havent replaced him hence why our build-up play is so much slower and less effective.
nicely writeen article but i just feel its maybe 8/10 years too early to cast judgement on Baley’s place in tottenham folk lore!
12/09/2014 @ 4:07 pm
Yes, Bale is a legend. He is certainly amongst the legendary players to have played for the club. I would rate King higher, for all he went through and what he gave in terms of results, but still, Bale did not do anything really bad.
Modric however, is another case. The way he angled for a Chelsea move first, has forever tarnished him in my eyes. If he had not, he too would have been given very high rating, given his ability and importance.
Van der Vaart, Sandro, Walker and many more will be fondly thought of for years.
12/09/2014 @ 4:50 pm
100% agree.
Gareth is the best player Spurs have had in my lifetime and this will most likely stay the same(though hopefully not).
He’s a legend, simple as, and if he hadn’t been injured quite as often as he was, then he would have played a lot more often than he did, developed faster than he did and then who knows how many more Champions League nights/trophies he’d of helped us witness.
Bale unlike King, Hoddle etc. wasn’t a Spurs fan as kid, so I find it very difficult to blame him for wanting a move to the biggest club in the world, to experience a new culture and to win the biggest trophy in club football.
13/09/2014 @ 7:17 pm
No!
16/09/2014 @ 4:58 pm
Bale cannot be considered as a Spurs legend. He is in the group of Berbatov, Keane, Klinsman etc.
22/09/2014 @ 4:05 am
Ridiculous to claim Bale is legendary. He was good for 1 year only. Then he demanded to leave, he was – in his eyes – bigger than Tottenham. LEvy was right to sell for an excellent price. Bale won nothing for us and may even end up somewhere else in the PL. He is a traitor who contributed little in the great schem of things. Bale a legend? Not fit to lace the boots of the real legends imho. He will be booed by all genuine Tottenham fans should we ever meet him in maybe the Europa or possibly CL. Tottenham are evrything Bale is not. We are class.