Parker and Modric, Stewart and Gascoigne, Hoddle and Waddle: six terrific Tottenham partnerships
Scott Parker and Luka Modric's partnership in the Tottenham midfield has lifted the Lilywhites to third in the Premier League, with a game in hand on Man United, and Harry Redknapp's team are playing some fantastic football thanks to their pairing. Spurs have had many successful combinations over the years and here are six of the best…
DAVE MACKAY AND DANNY BLANCHFLOWER
With Scotland international Mackay operating in front of the defence, winning balls, breaking up attacks and generally frightening the opposition, captain Blanchflower could pull the strings in midfield. Combining their contrasting styles, Tottenham won the League and Cup double in 1961, the FA Cup in 1962 - where the skipper scored a penalty in the 3-1 win against Burnley - and the 1963 Cup Winners Cup (the first European trophy won by a British club). Mackay was forced to miss the latter win against Atletico Madrid, however, after breaking his leg earlier in the season, though came back to win the FA Cup again in 1967 under the management of Bill Nicholson.
STEVE ARCHIBALD AND GARTH CROOKS
Spurs were a major force in the 1980s, with the front pairing of Archibald and Crooks firing the club to FA Cup glory in 1981. They beat Man City at Wembley, with Crooks on target as Tottenham won a replayed final, and the following season Archibald and Crooks combined again in the final as Keith Burkinshaw's side retained the cup by beating QPR in another replay.
PAUL STEWART AND PAUL GASCOIGNE
Gascoigne and Stewart arrived at White Hart Lane in the summer of 1988 for big fees, guiding the club to sixth place in that first season together in North London. With Stewart moved from striker to a midfield slot alongside Gazza by Terry Venables, Spurs finished above defending champions Arsenal in third place in 1990, but their crowning glory was to come a year later. After Gascoigne's brilliance helped knock the Gunners out in the last four, Tottenham went on to beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the final. Unfortunately for Gascoigne, he ruptured his cruciate ligaments and was taken off after 17 minutes, never kicking another ball for Spurs having moved to Lazio by the time he was fit. The final went altogether more successfully for Stewart, however, with the unsung midfield hero grabbing Tottenham's equaliser and helping his team lift the trophy for a then-record eighth time.
ALAN GILZEAN AND JIMMY GREAVES/MARTIN CHIVERS
It took just three years following the arrival of Gilzean in 1964 for his partnership with the prolific Greaves to bring silverware to White Hart Lane. Scoring against Millwall, Portsmouth, Bristol City, Birmingham and Forest, the strikers fired the club to the 1967 FA Cup final at Wembley, where Spurs defeated London rivals Chelsea 2-1. Greaves left for West Ham in 1970 and Scotland international Gilzean then formed a lethal front pairing with Martin Chivers, as Spurs won the League Cups in 1971 and 1973 as well as the 1972 UEFA Cup.
GLENN HODDLE AND CHRIS WADDLE
Their pop chart success aside, Hoddle and Waddle linked superbly in the Spurs midfield during the late 1980s as David Pleat's side finished third in the old First Division in the 1986/87 season. The Lilywhites were pushing for glory on all fronts that season, with Hoddle and Waddle's silky skills providing the ammunition for Clive Allen to bag an incredible 49 goals in all competitions. Tottenham agonisingly finished runners-up to Coventry in a thrilling FA Cup final, losing 3-2, having lost late on in the League Cup semi final to arch-rivals Arsenal. Hoddle left Britain for France at the end of the campaign, joining Monaco after 12 years in north London, while Waddle - who joined Tottenham in 1985 - followed his old pal to France shortly after, joining Marseille for £4.5m in 1989.
JURGEN KLINSMANN AND TEDDY SHERINGHAM
They may have shared just a single season together, but Sheringham - the intelligent team player - and Klinsmann - the all out goal scorer - were deadly. By the end of the 1994/95 season, German international Klinsmann had 20 Premier League goals to his name with Sheringham scoring 18. Their goals pushed Spurs up to seventh in the league after a stuttering start, while Klinsmann was named the Football Writers' Player of the Year, before leaving for Bayern Munich.