Where Will Jermain Defoe Finish on Tottenham’s Record Goalscorers List?
By Logan Holmes
Jermain Defoe completes his hat-trick against Maribor
With a successful start to the season and a regular starting place in the Tottenham team Jermain Defoe has made rapid progress on Tottenham’s all-time goalscorers list. He had already moved ahead of his former team mate Robbie Keane prior to the match against Maribor and his three goals in the Europa League game brought his total of goals to 126. He has now overtaken Teddy Sheringham to move into eighth place on the Tottenham list of goalscorers with Alan Gilzean becoming his next target. Gilzean ended his Tottenham career with 133 goals so Defoe requires another eight goals to replace the Tottenham ‘Legend’ who joined Spurs in 1964 and spent ten seasons at White Hart Lane. Defoe who scored his 200th club career goal in the recent defeat by Chelsea has now scored five hat-tricks for Spurs – three in the Premier League and one in each of the FA Cup and the Europa League.
Defoe’s 6 goals this season have taken him into the top 5 on Tottenham’s all-time goalscoring list. He passed Alan Gilzean, Len Duquemin on 134 and George Hunt with 137. After that Defoe has some work to do to catch Cliff Jones, in fourth place, on 159. Jimmy Greaves tops the list with 266, a record that is unlikely to be within the reach of a modern player.
***Defoe as now moved ahead of Gilzean and Duquemin after scoring twice against Dinamo Tbilisi in the Europa League and the two goals against Tromso have put him level with George Hunt. The two goals against Aston Villa have taken him into 5th ahead of Hunt. Three further Europa League goals and his first Premier League goal of the season have taken his total to 143***
Who’s Ahead of Defoe on Tottenham Goalscorers List (up-dated 11th January, 2014)
1. Jimmy Greaves (1961 – 70): 266
2. Bobby Smith (1955 – 64): 208
3. Martin Chivers (1967 – 76): 174
4. Cliff Jones (1958 – 68): 159
5. Jermain Defoe* (2003 – 14 ): 143
6. George Hunt (1930 – 37): 137
7. Len Duquemin (1947 – 57): 134
8. Alan Gilzean (1964 – 1974): 133
9. Teddy Sheringham* (1992 – 2003): 125
10. Robbie Keane* (2002 – 11): 122
(* in 2 periods with Tottenham)
Defoe has been aware of these goalscoring records and had them in his sights this season. After his hat-trick he commented on ITV,
"“Obviously as a forward you get judged on scoring goals. It is always the best feeling in the world. For me that is special on a personal note because Teddy is a player I used to watch as a kid. He was a fantastic player and a great goalscorer for club and country so I’m happy with that.”"
Martin Chivers – a target for Defoe
The game against Maribor proved very successful for Defoe. With the return of Emmanuel Adebayor to the team there was pressure on Defoe. He gave the perfect striker’s response, however, by scoring to remind Andre Villas-Boas why he had selected him for the team in the first place and even better, it was a hat-trick. The three goals also saw him progress up the Tottenham list of goalscorers in European competitions. At the start of the evening he was in fourth place. His first goal took him into joint second position level with Alan Gilzean and Martin Peters. His next two strikes put him into second place with 15 goals and on course for the number one spot held by Martin Chivers who has scored 22. The 7 Europa League goals this season have taken Defoe ahead of Chivers and on to 23 goals.
Tottenham’s European Goalscorers List
- Jermain Defoe: 23 goals
- Martin Chivers (1971 – 74): 22 goals
- Alan Gilzean (1971 – 74) & Martin Peters (1971 – 74): 13
- Dimitar Berbatov: 12
- Bobby Smith (1961 – 64): 10
- Jimmy Greaves (1961 – 68), Garth Crooks (1981 – 85), Robbie Keane & Ralph Coates (1971 – 74): 9
Defoe has responded well to being a regular starter in the Tottenham team and he has plenty of goals to aim for through the rest of the season with the opportunity of moving up the Spurs list of all-time goalscorers as well as continuing in the England team. The hat-trick was a reminder to Roy Hodgson who had omitted him from the squad for next week’s friendly.
Andre Villas-Boas spoke of Defoe’s record.
"“It’s important for JD because he overtakes Sheringham’s record, which means a lot. It’s Roy’s selection for England and I cannot comment on another manager’s selection.”"
With continued good form Defoe could finish the year in fifth place on the Tottenham list and with a successful Europa League campaign he could be closing in on Martin Chivers on the European list. That’s plenty for Defoe to aim at for one season.