Espen BAARDSEN

Tottenham Hotspur

Espen Baardsen - Tottenham Hotspur - Premiership Appearances

Photo/Foto: Dave Pinegar

Date: 24 January 1998

Click on image to enlarge

    • POSITION
      Goalkeeper
    • DATE OF BIRTH
      Wednesday, 07 December 1977
    • PLACE OF BIRTH
      San Rafael, USA
  • CLUBS
  • Tottenham Hotspur
    • Club Career Dates
      1996-2000
    • League Debut
      Saturday, 3rd May 1997 as a sub in a 2-1 defeat at Liverpool (Aged: 19)
    • Club Career
      23 League games.
  • Watford FC
    • Club Career Dates
      2000-2002
    • League Debut
    • Club Career
      41 League appearances
150 x 150 Image 150 x 150 Image 150 x 150 Image 150 x 150 Image 150 x 150 Image

Espen BAARDSEN - Tottenham Hotspur - Premiership Appearances

Espen Baardsen is pictured during the 1-1 draw with Barnsley in

the FA Cup 4th round Cup.

 

Club Career: 22 League apps. (+1 as sub), 0 goals

 

Free transfer on 16/7/1996 from San Francisco Allblacks, USA
 
Tottenham Hotspur:   1996-1997     Played   2     Scored   0   goals   (Premiership)
     1997-1998     Played   9     Scored   0   goals   (Premiership)
     1998-1999     Played 12     Scored   0   goals   (Premiership)
     1999-2000     Played   0     Scored   0   goals   (Premiership)
 
Transferred to Watford on 3/8/2000 for £1.25 million
 

.

 

 Espen Baardsen is pictured on 8th. December 1998.  Photo G Herringshaw. ©

 

 

Tottenham fans had good memories of Norwegian goalkeepers after Erik Thorstvedt's time at the club in the late '80s and '90s, so the parallels were obvious when Espen Baardsen arrived on a free transfer from San Francisco Allblacks in the summer of 1996. In fact, it was Thorstvedt who helped to bring about the move when he was approached by Espen's mother, who was keen to find a suitable club where her son could showcase his talents.

Baardsen had to wait until May 1997 for his chance in the first team. It came at Anfield, as a half time substitute for the injured Ian Walker. Far from daunted, 19-year-old Baardsen produced a series of fine saves as Liverpool threatened to run riot. Although his performance couldn't stop Spurs slipping to a 2-1 defeat, it did indicate that he might enjoy a similarly successful White Hart Lane career as Thorstvedt.

Early in 1997-98, Baardsen did nothing to suggest otherwise when he held firm in the face of an Arsenal onslaught, helping Spurs cling to a goalless draw at Highbury. But opportunities remained few and far between for the American-born Norwegian, with manager George Graham keeping faith with Walker as his number 1. Baardsen made 12 league starts the following campaign - his most in any season at the club - and was an unused substitute in Tottenham's League Cup win in 1999.

In 1999-2000, however, he didn't make a single appearance. Seen as surplus to requirements, Baardsen left for Watford in a £1.25m deal in the summer of 2000, having made only 23 league appearances in four years at White Hart Lane. Espen did enjoy more regular football at Vicarage Road, playing 41 times over two seasons, before a brief spell at Everton - where his one appearance ironically came in a 4-3 defeat at White Hart Lane - proved to be the last in his professional career. Despite having the talent and the physique to succeed as a goalkeeper, Espen had grown tired of football and in December 2003, aged just 25, he retired from the game to pursue other interests. (Alex Voskou)