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jurgen klinsmann

FreddieYid

Well-Known Member
Aug 1, 2011
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4,020
He was the last elite world class player that we signed.

Before the days of the internet, transfer rumours and itk, his announcement came out of the blue.

He used to come to training in an old beaten up beatle too. Gotta love him.
 

EJWTartanSpur

SC Supporter
Jan 29, 2011
4,805
10,087
Some really bad editing, and hidden in there some classic Ben Thatcher “defending”.

A warning though : do not watch if the sight of Sol C****ball in a Spurs shirt is too much.



Remember this game like it was yesterday. Wasn't just Ardiles who couldn't quite get the balance correct though was it LOL ?

Klinsmann and Ferdinand up front
Ginola and Fox wingers
Anderton as an attacking midfielder
With what can only be the powderpuff Berti, and Nielsen ( who was no real defensive dynamo ), behind them in midfield haha

Another reason why you could get players like that then was that there was no CL as we know it, and thus no glass ceiling for the teams outside of it. One team in the European Cup ( CL ), 1-2 in the UEFA Cup and 1 in the Cup Winners Cup and that was it. Europe was nice to have for sure, but a lack of it did not limit clubs in the same way
 

tototoner

Staying Alert
Mar 21, 2004
29,387
34,059
http://sportwitness.co.uk/klinsmann-tells-german-media-unique-tottenham-different-london-clubs/

Ahead of Tottenham playing Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League, SportBild called him in for an interview. The magazine’s first question was about the ‘myth’ of his former club and what makes them so special.

“I think Tottenham’s identification with their fans and the Tottenham district is incredibly deep,” explained Klinsmann. “People live in Tottenham around White Hart Lane – and in 130 years, a Spurs fan base has evolved all over the world. No matter where I travel today, I meet Tottenham fans everywhere.”

Then asked what sets Spurs apart from other London clubs, the Manchester teams and Liverpool, he said: “What distinguishes the club is its proximity to the people. It’s a hands-on club, and you will be just part of this family culture. And Tottenham’s footballing style was always more entertaining than that of the other clubs in London. In addition, the support of the fans is unique, because always the whole stadium sings and gives the team energy.

“Similar to Dortmund, Tottenham fans will feel when a game tilts and have tremendous footballing expertise. They want to see technically good and fast football, and they love players who can decide things by themselves. Like Harry Kane or Dele Alli now.”
 

Flashp

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
784
3,274
Was probably truer at the time he played for us, though.

That it is such no more is not entirely the clubs fault as well, more to do with modern football in general, where you have to have a rich benefactor, or be a very efficient business to stay relevant and within distance of winning things.
 

TottenhamMattSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
10,925
16,007
It is quite amazing the calibre of players we managed to sign. Lineker Gazza ginola etc. Trying to think last time we signed a world class player at their peak ?

We were a top team when we signed Lineker and Gazza.
When we signed Klinsmann in 1994, it had only been 3 years since we won our last FA Cup (record 8 times back then) and our decline, despite a wonky season before hasn't really started.
I'm still not sure how we got Ginola or Ferdinand, but I had signed them both on championship manager weeks before hand. Realistic game that one!

He was a cut above the rest of the premier league back then. But used us to reboot his career and get his move to Bayern Munich.

He left to go to his home country while he was still at his peak. We were also an fucking shit show behind the scenes.

It was quite beautiful having class like Sheringham and Klinsman up top.

That team was a really, really good team and shocking we only finished 7th (although that could be in part due to the poor start to the season before Francis took over).

Real shame we basically had the team ripped apart over the summer as should have been building on it and then followed a really bad period of mediocrity until mid 00's.

We had a good team on paper, Walker, Mabbut, Anderton, Barmby, Popescu, Dumitrescu, Klinsmann and Sheringham to name a few. But we were weak as fuck when tested. Won our first 2 or 3 games then got best by someone like Leicester. Remember getting twatted 5-2 away to a rubbish Man City and that FAC Semi final still traumatises me. Daniel Amokachi. Jeez.

He was the last elite world class player that we signed.

Before the days of the internet, transfer rumours and itk, his announcement came out of the blue.

He used to come to training in an old beaten up beatle too. Gotta love him.

I read a fantastic article on him. At the time we had some kind of player liaison who looked after all new signings to help them settle in. Klinsmann took a liking to the bloke and ended up at his house for Christmas dinner and even used to turn up for a kick about with the blokes kid and mates. Genuine hero IMO, the reason I support Spurs and the reason I got into football. If Poch ever leaves, a part of me hopes Klinsmann comes and is a roaring success.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
Was probably truer at the time he played for us, though.

That it is such no more is not entirely the clubs fault as well, more to do with modern football in general, where you have to have a rich benefactor, or be a very efficient business to stay relevant and within distance of winning things.
Disagree. It’s football in general, not the clubs fault. It’s just endemic of the money in the game and the divide it has caused between fans and players. However, I’d actually say I feel far more connected to. Spurs now with the harmony and passion the players show (Kane, Dele, Winks, Jan, Hugo and obviously Pochettino) than by the end of the Sugar years when we were watching a team of has beens and journeymen managed by a gooner scumbag.
 

southlondonyiddo

My eyes have seen some of the glory..
Nov 8, 2004
12,599
15,012
Disagree. It’s football in general, not the clubs fault. It’s just endemic of the money in the game and the divide it has caused between fans and players. However, I’d actually say I feel far more connected to. Spurs now with the harmony and passion the players show (Kane, Dele, Winks, Jan, Hugo and obviously Pochettino) than by the end of the Sugar years when we were watching a team of has beens and journeymen managed by a gooner scumbag.

I agree in part with this, the sugar/Graham era was shocking but quite often the atmosphere used to come from being shite, always the underdog and some gallows humour
Generally I think the worse the football on the pitch the better the atmosphere because there is nothing to watch so might as well have a sing song. The library was a decent example.

If suddenly you start playing well and you have 1 or 2 players or a manager you can really relate to then for a time the atmosphere can be incredible (most of the Martin Jol era/Hoddle 5-1 Chelsea/Gerry Francis, Anfield 2-1)

The better you get, the more you want and expect. After the amazing atmospheres around the Redknapp - Taxi for Micon, Milan games you could hear a pin drop for some of the lesser games at WHL

Will be interesting to see what the new grounds atmosphere will be like. Will it ever match the old place? The fan base has changed drastically of late so fingers and toes crossed!!
 

Archibald&Crooks

Aegina Expat
Admin
Feb 1, 2005
55,533
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IIRC there was a big hoo-ha in the press about him diving, it went on and on and on until the day he made his debut at Sheffield Wednesday and did this.

 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
I agree in part with this, the sugar/Graham era was shocking but quite often the atmosphere used to come from being shite, always the underdog and some gallows humour
Generally I think the worse the football on the pitch the better the atmosphere because there is nothing to watch so might as well have a sing song. The library was a decent example.

If suddenly you start playing well and you have 1 or 2 players or a manager you can really relate to then for a time the atmosphere can be incredible (most of the Martin Jol era/Hoddle 5-1 Chelsea/Gerry Francis, Anfield 2-1)

The better you get, the more you want and expect. After the amazing atmospheres around the Redknapp - Taxi for Micon, Milan games you could hear a pin drop for some of the lesser games at WHL

Will be interesting to see what the new grounds atmosphere will be like. Will it ever match the old place? The fan base has changed drastically of late so fingers and toes crossed!!
I understand what you’re coming from, but as good as the atmosphere could be, its hard to forget the ‘we want our old Tottenham back’ and ‘we want sugar out’ chants. The Jol era is probably the best I can remember for atmosphere, but at that point it was also by far the best Spurs side since Venables. As for the Redknapp era, some nights will forever stay with me, but when chips were down, as you point out, the crowd could be quite quiet.

I hope that we develop a culture of being loud and excitable quickly at the new ground, but that in large will require the team to play well too.
 

Jakes

Lurking with intent
Dec 21, 2004
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Almost

Some years earlier Crooks scored the winner after 70 odd years

We beat them 2-1 in the quarter final of the FA Cup that year at Anfield when Teddy curled one inside James left hand post and Jurgen ran on and scored the winner late on

We were brilliant and all thought our name was on the Cup
We went to Elland Rd for the semi and got stuffed 4-1 by Everton !

Was at both these as I was at uni in Leeds and they were easier to get to.

Watching us win sitting in the Kop was magical. That Everton semi at Elland Road I cried my eyes out. Daniel Amokachi ffs.
 

BringBack_leGin

Well-Known Member
Jul 28, 2004
27,719
54,929
IIRC there was a big hoo-ha in the press about him diving, it went on and on and on until the day he made his debut at Sheffield Wednesday and did this.


I remember being a child in Cyprus when we signed him staying with my grandfather, on the phone to my dad who was in England and him telling me we’d just signed a player called Klinsmann but he was past it and a cheat.

Ask my father now and there aren’t many players he loves more.
 

TottenhamMattSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
10,925
16,007
I remember being a child in Cyprus when we signed him staying with my grandfather, on the phone to my dad who was in England and him telling me we’d just signed a player called Klinsmann but he was past it and a cheat.

Ask my father now and there aren’t many players he loves more.

Interesting.
I don't ever remember Klinsmann being child in Cyprus he signed in 94. Thought he was a man in his late 20's coming from Monaco. And he stayed with your grandfather? That's one to tell your grand kids!
 

TottenhamMattSpur

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
10,925
16,007
If anyone wants an indicator as to how big a deal Klinsmann was, we were going to sign Maradonna but decided his ban from the world cup was too much baggage. The next biggest name possible (to spurs) was Klinsmann. World Cup winner and one of the top scorers at the last 2 tournaments.
 

hutchiniho

Top Cat
Mar 19, 2006
4,662
5,879
Just seen this thread pop up. Thought someone was posting a link to us signing him as a deadline day, Kane replacement!!! After another German proves way too expensive!

Top player. Still have my Holsten 94/95 18 shirt.
 

SpursSince1980

Well-Known Member
Jan 23, 2011
4,731
14,439
Met him when he was playing at the club during his first spell. It was at a little pub in Hampstead. I was there with a few friends having a pint, and there he was, at the bar, all by himself having a quiet beer. So, of course, I immediately stumbled up to him, breathless and nervous... and the first words out of my mouth were; "Fucking hell. Are you Jurgen the German"!?!
Admittedly, I was a little sloshed. But to my amazement he smiled and laughed. He then spent the next hour or so with us, just chatting about footy and life in general. Apparently he lived close to Hampstead and just liked to wonder out from time to time, go for a drink or dinner and meet some of the locals.
There was nothing materialistic about him. Was down to earth, funny and incredibly endearing.
Then he fucked off to Bayern. Bastard! :geek:
 
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EaMidSpurs

Well-Known Member
Mar 22, 2015
327
519
Took my youngest brother to the Everton home game for his first game at WHL.

Then took my youngest brother to the training ground the Monday after we beat Newcastle 4-2, kicked the ball back to Jurgen a few times after his shots went over the bar... should've kept the ball lol
 

Gedi

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2004
505
446
Watching us win sitting in the Kop was magical. That Everton semi at Elland Road I cried my eyes out. Daniel Amokachi

I absolutely loved Jurgen. Even convinced my mum to name our new cat after him at the start of that season. I lived in Belfast at the time and this was the first season I ever attended any games. My first match was away to Blackburn and I went with a Spurs supporters club. Steve Perryman was caretaker manager and we lost 2-0 but I have fond memories. After the game we waited for an hour or so and saw the players as they came out and headed to their coach, got Jurgen’s autograph. Wish I had of had a camera. :/

I was at Anfield for the FA Cup Qtr Final, this time with a Liverpool supporters club and that really was a brilliant occasion. I’ll always remember the Liverpool crowd giving Jurgen a standing ovation at the end of the match. Given we were originally banned from the FA Cup that season, it seemed destined we were on our way to winning it.... and then came Amokachi and his hat trick. I had to work that day. Stuck on the till at McDonalds (I was 18) with the match on a screen in the lobby that I could see.... ?
 
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