Former Tottenham forward Jermain Defoe has reflected on many happy memories during his time in North London, following his recent decision to retire from professional football. Defoe, 39, made over 350 for the Lilywhites, finding the net 143 times during three spells at the club.
With his last action coming for League One side Sunderland earlier this year, the former West Ham academy graduate deciding to hang up his boots back in March insisting "football will always remain in my blood". Speaking to the club, Defoe reflected on many enjoyable moments with the side, insisting his times at White Hart Lane where "some of the happiest of my career".
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When asked what Spurs meant to him, the former Rangers forward began by stating: "[It meant] Everything. When I was younger, Leon Knight’s dad took myself and Leon training at the indoor pitch at White Hart Lane.
"I was a kid. I said to Leon: 'I want to see the pitch'. We managed to get into the stadium, I had to see the pitch.
"You can imagine it, as a kid. Then years later, I got the chance to play for Spurs. You can imagine how that felt. When I had the chance to sign for Spurs, I just said to my agent: 'I don’t care about the money, I just want to sign'.
"Then the reception when I signed. I hadn’t kicked a ball! This club. Everywhere I go in the world, it’s Tottenham. Fans coming up to me, talking about Spurs. That’s it."
Revealing his favourite goal as well as many other touching sentiments, the former England international also revealed a tear-jerking moment following his five goals against Wigan back in 2009.
"[On whether he ever cried whilst at the club] Yes, at that Wigan game. I was so emotional. I was welling up when I scored the fifth, I was so happy,'' he began.
"When you are at a club you love and you do something like that in front of your home fans, in front of your family... I was a bit overwhelmed.
"The big thing for a striker in a game is to score a hat-trick and get the match ball. But to score five, that’s something I dreamed about when I was a kid."
