Steffen Freund Scored for Tottenham on 13th July, 2001

Steffen Freund’s return to Tottenham as Assistant Head Coach to Andre Villas Boas reminds supporters that in over 100 Premier League matches for the club, the midfielder never managed to score a senior competitive goal. When Freund received the ball near goal it would be accompanied by the ironic cry of “SSSHHHOOOOOTTTT!!” from spectators.

On this day, 13th July, 2001, Steffen Freund did score a goal for Spurs. His return to Stevenage next Wednesday will remind the Assistant Head Coach of this momentous occasion. It was the first pre-season friendly of season 2001-02 and Tottenham took a first team squad to play the ‘old’ Stevenage Borough club at the start of a six year agreement whereby the Spurs’ reserve  team played their matches at the non-League club’s ground. Spurs won 8 – 1 and while Gus Poyet scored a debut hat-trick, Borough drew level after an early Tottenham strike and two young players, Ferguson and Yannick Kamanan scored twice, the most memorable moment was when Steffen Freund scored his first and only goal for Tottenham Hotspur.

That never to be forgotten Steffen Freund moment came in the 78th minute. Spurs played two different teams in each half and Freund had only started after the interval. The goal came when Steffen Iversen released Freund who smashed a delicate chip over the goalkeeper and watched as it agonisingly crept over the line before a defender hacked it clear. Did it cross the line? The referee blew his whistle and pointed to the centre spot – ‘GOAL!!’

Eleven years on, debates still rage in pubs around Stevenage as to whether the German’s shot went in. There was no video evidence in those days to assist the referee – Oh yes, that’s right – there’s still no technology for such important decisions! – but ask Herr Freund – he is certain that it was a goal and will assure you that the ball crossed the by as least a millimetre.

If a T-shirt manufacturer had been on site that evening he could have made a fortune by selling a few thousand ‘I saw Steffen Freund score’ shirts. After 916 days and 87 matches in a Tottenham shirt, Steffen Freund had scored for Tottenham.

Gus Poyet scored a first half hat-trick, giving Spurs the lead after eight minutes. Stevenage equalised from a penalty awarded when another debutant, Goran Bunjevcevic, was adjudged to have pulled a Borough player. Steven Ferguson restored Spurs’ lead before Poyet added his second. Poyet them completed hid hat-trick and Ferguson scored his second for a half-time score of 5 – 1. Freund’s goal made it 6 – 1 and Yannick Kamanan scored two goals in the last ten minutes to make the final score 8 – 1.