Lewis Holtby’s arrival at Spurs makes him one of a small but fondly remembered band of German internationals to have worn the white of their national side and the Lilywhite of Tottenham.
Naturally, the fans’ favourite among the bunch is Jurgen Klinsmann, who arrived at the Lane after the 1994 World Cup and went on to score 39 goals in two memorable spells at the club.
Supporters may have mixed feelings about the other two men however. Christian Ziege spent three years at Spurs between 2001 and 2004 and while he was primarily a defender, the former Middlesbrough and Liverpool man had a keen eye for goal.
Some won’t recall Ziege’s injury record or his defending with too much fondness but at least his tally of ten goals for Tottenham was ten more than Steffen Freund managed during his time at the club. Our current assistant coach played at the Lane between 1998 and 2003 and while some will fondly recall his commitment and the times he was urged to ‘Shoot!’, others will choose to remember his spot of house shopping with Sol Campbell.
Holtby now makes it four and the player says he is delighted to be here.
“It is fantastic to be here. I can’t wait to settle and to play for the club and I am looking forward to the season,” Holtby said on the club’s website.
“The facilities are the best I have seen. I am proud to be here, a huge club that is only getting bigger and bigger.
“I played Champions League with Schalke, but I wanted to be here now.
“As soon as I saw the facilities, the crowd and spoke to Andre, I just knew I wanted to be here. I am over the moon.”
Lewis could make his debut in tonight’s match with Norwich but will his time at the club have as much impact as some of his German predecessors?
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It’s been a while with so much stupidity but at last an intelligent idea for an article.
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I’d say Jurgen was my pick of the bunch!
Great signing, and a real coup for the club. Any player who captains the German under 21 team, then makes the step up to the current senior side is clearly a talent worth having. The age, price and potential of the lad just makes a a superb signing all that bit sweeter!
I won’t claim to of seen Holtby play live that many times, but sometimes you don’t have to, to be able to identify the players strengths, weaknesses and potential.
After all it took me less than 45 mins, after watching Sandro make his debut against Arsenal, to turn to a friend of mine and declare ‘ we have got the player we’ve been missing here’.
What most impresses/excites me the most about Lewis as a player, aside from all the usual attributes associated with an attacking midfielder, is his speed of thought and his superb footballing brain.
What I mean by this, is that he always seems to have a CLEAR picture of how to effect a game, be it with a pass or his movement off the ball, to benefit his team before the opposition have time to react. Giving the impression that he is one step ahead of the game. For me, THIS is his BIGGEST attribute!
First time I saw this kid play he reminded me of a more mobile VDV. Tenacious, skilful and intelligent, Holtby IS the ideal signing for a Spurs team lacking a ‘brain’,following the departures of Modric and Rafa.
Sorry, but I hate footballers who gush about how excited they are about their new club, how they were childhood fans of Spurs/Arsenal/Chelsea/Whoever, and who will no doubt kiss the chicken badge at the earliest opportunity. Just do the business on the pitch, Lewis, cut the brown-nosing and everything will be hunky-dory (and you’ll get the lucrative transfer to City/Chelsea/United/Whoever that will please our Daniel in next to no time).