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When England striker Teddy Sheringham departed for Manchester United in
the summer of 1997, Tottenham were left in urgent need of attacking
reinforcements. The club responded with a double swoop on Newcastle
United for £6m forward Les Ferdinand and £2m winger David Ginola, a
player as frustrating as he was flamboyant. Indeed, Ginola had left St
James' Park under a cloud after falling out with new manager Kenny
Dalglish.
However, with skill and strength in abundance - albeit with an
occasional tendency to go to ground under challenges - the gifted
Frenchman brought much-needed flair to a distinctly average Spurs team,
and excited fans who were still reeling from the departure of their
talismanic striker. Ginola didn't score a league goal for his new club
until the end of October, but it was certainly worth the wait. His
left-footed curler from just outside the Sheffield Wednesday box helped
to secure Tottenham's first league win in almost two months. Six losses
in the next seven games plunged Spurs into the mire, before Ginola's
brace dragged them to a crucial 3-0 victory over fellow strugglers
Barnsley. He went on to score nine goals in all competitions, many of
his six in the league helping to earn crucial points as Spurs avoided
relegation.
Early in 1998-99, George Graham took over as manager and the doubters
wondered whether David would be able to work under such a notorious
disciplinarian. However, Graham looked to make the most of Ginola's
two-footedness within a sound team structure, demanding that the winger
get in plenty of crosses with his left or cut inside to shoot with his
right. Despite managing only three league goals, David consistently
produced inspired performances as Spurs chased cup glory on two fronts.
In the League Cup quarter-final against Manchester United, he produced
exactly what his manager had ordered, whipping in a near post cross for
Chris Armstrong to head in before sealing a 3-1 win with a trademark
strike from distance. Although he was heavily marked in the final
against Leicester City, Ginola claimed his first honour in English
football as Spurs took the cup with a 1-0 triumph.
Memorable strike followed memorable strike, particularly in the FA Cup. A
stunning low drive at Wimbledon earned a 4th round replay which Spurs
won 3-0. Darren Anderton's 35-yard drive against Leeds United in the 5th
round looked like it might not be equalled all season - but the
Frenchman did it in the same half. Having already hit the woodwork with
two audacious efforts, Ginola met a dropping ball with a ferocious
volley from 25 yards, sealing the tie in spectacular fashion.
Yet it was
in the quarter-final at Barnsley that David produced the moment most
Spurs fans will always remember him for. Picking the ball up on the
left-hand touchline, he weaved in and out of the Barnsley defenders
before cutting inside and rolling the ball into the far corner. Many
likened it to Ricky Villa's famous cup final winner in 1981, but there
was to be no repeat of that triumph as Spurs were disappointingly beaten
2-0 by Newcastle in the semi-finals. For Ginola though, the accolades
kept coming and his performances earned him the PFA and Football
Writers' awards for player of the year. After his harsh omission from
France's 1998 World Cup squad, David had completed his most successful
season in English football.
Although he didn't quite hit the same heights in his final season at the
club, Ginola did add to his catalogue of outstanding goals. A typically
powerful run and long range finish against Middlesbrough in April
provided the most special of his five in all competitions. However, he
was unable to prevent a disappointing mid table finish or early exits
from all three cup competitions. That summer, Tottenham took the
opportunity to make a profit on a player approaching his 33rd birthday
and after exactly 100 league appearances, with 12 goals, Ginola was
transferred to Aston Villa on 1st August 2000 for £3m.
David's flair and invention had not only marked him out as one of
Tottenham's most skilful players since Paul Gascoigne, but his way of
playing the game had come to embody the very principles of the club. On
11th December 2008, he was inducted into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of
Fame - but had long since written his name into supporters' hearts. (Alex Voskou)
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