Hotspur HQ presents: a compilation of Tottenham Hotspur’s 20 best goals since the start of the 2010 year, until the present time.
There have been plenty of great goals during Tottenham Hotspur’s illustrious history that have spanned multiple centuries during their championship winning years and even when Spurs didn’t win a major trophy.
But for this slideshow feature article, it’s about Tottenham’s modern era goals. More specifically, 20 goals that took place from the year 2010 and onwards.
POPULAR: Tottenham’s All-time Starting XI
Why look back from only the past five years? For starters, it’s easier to recall these goals than during Spurs’ heydays. Secondly, these goals are still fairly recent and still hold up today as some of the best. Lastly, a five year period is more than enough time to gather which goals are considered some of the best in today’s standards.
Before carrying on though, know this. This list is purely subjective, meaning Hotspur HQ’s opinions will greatly differ from other peoples’ thoughts on what should be included, dropped, ranked higher or ranked lower. Now that, that’s settled. To the list!
Next: #20. Alan Hutton vs. Bolton Wanderers
#20. Alan Hutton vs. Bolton Wanderers (Away) | November 6, 2010
Bolton managed a 4-2 victory against Tottenham back on November 6, 2010, but that didn’t stop two Spurs players from turning in some quality goals.
Striker Roman Pavlyuchenko volleyed a lovely ball near full-time, but before him came this strike from Alan Hutton.
For those that don’t remember, Alan Hutton was an error-prone right-back for Tottenham who was mercifully replaced by Kyle Walker in 2011. Hutton had his moments, but there are hardly enough of them for a highlight reel of the Scottish international. This goal was the exception. Alan Hutton cut inside into space and curls the ball past Bolton ‘keeper Jussi Jääskeläinen. A wonderful goal from a full-back.
Next: #19. Aaron Lennon vs. Stoke City
#19. Aaron Lennon vs. Stoke City (Home) | December 29, 2013
This goal against Stoke on December 29, 2013 was part of a routine 3-0 win for Tottenham. Lennon’s completely unmarked out wide and is in the perfect position to exploit the deflected pass from the left flank. Though he often had the pace and smarts to get into good positions, Lennon rarely took chances like he did here. If he had, he’d probably still be with the team.
Next: #18. Luka Modrić vs. Liverpool
#18. Luka Modrić vs. Liverpool (Home) | September 18, 2011
The Croatian midfielder did a lot of things for Tottenham, but scoring goals often, wasn’t one of them. Luka Modrić only scored 17 goals in 160 appearances for Spurs. His positioning deep in midfield meant he wasn’t expected to contribute much anyway.
This goal came as part of a surprise 4-0 rout of Liverpool on September 18, 2011. If Modrić did score, it was almost always from distance.
Next: #17. Rafael van der Vaart vs. Liverpool
#17. Rafael van der Vaart vs. Liverpool (Away) | May 14, 2011
No list of Tottenham goals from this era is going to exclude Rafael van der Vaart. The Dutchman was signed on the last day of the 2010 summer transfer window and went on a tear at Tottenham that lasted two seasons.
Van der Vaart was a vital part of Harry Redknapp’s system at the club, often playing little man to Peter Crouch’s big man. Talented from almost any angle, with his head or his feet, he was precisely the type of player Tottenham needed then. It’s a shame the Dutch international left as early as he did.
Next: #16. Kyle Walker vs. Arsenal
#16. Kyle Walker vs. Arsenal (Home) | October 2, 2011
Kyle Walker’s goal against West Ham a couple weeks back (on December 5, 2015) was a great reminder of this game-deciding strike from the English right-back on October 2, 2011.
The game was finely poised at 1-1 until Luka Modrić’s shot gets deflected into the path of an on-rushing Walker. He surges forward and delivers a shot from outside the area, just beating Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczęsny to the far post. There are few things more beautiful than a surprise goal from a full-back.
Next: #15. Younès Kaboul vs. Arsenal
#15. Younès Kaboul vs. Arsenal (Away) | November 20, 2010
This goal has been included not necessarily for its individual brilliance, but rather for the context in which it happened.
Tottenham were down 2-0 against Arsenal at halftime on November 20, 2010. The first north London derby of the 2010-11 Premier League season. This match seemed lost until Gareth Bale pulled one back early in the second half and then van der Vaart converted a penalty to level it in the 67th minute.
A draw would have been an amazing result on its own, but Tottenham weren’t done yet. Centre-back Younès Kaboul jumped for the ball on a free-kick in the 85th minute and sent it past Arsenal keeper Łukasz Fabiański for the win. It was Tottenham’s first win at Arsenal in 17 years. Rarely, are such simple goals so marvelous.
Next: #14. Gareth Bale vs. West Ham United
#14. Gareth Bale vs. West Ham United (Away) | February 25, 2013
Gareth Bale’s last season with Tottenham — the 2012-13 Premier League season — was utter insanity. It’s difficult to convey to people who didn’t witness it first hand, but the Welshman would single-handedly drag Tottenham to victory on numerous occasions. Bale was a force of nature and the club would have been no where near as good, were he not in the side.
This match at the Boleyn Ground, West Ham’s home stadium, looked like it would end as a hard-fought 2-2 draw on February 25, 2013. Enter: Bale. He retrieves the ball in midfield in the 90th minute, casually strolls forward about 25 yards out from West Ham’s goal and arcs the ball through the air and into the net. A magical goal, and one that claimed Tottenham all three points.
Next: #13. Roman Pavlyuchenko vs Rubin Kazin
#13. Roman Pavlyuchenko vs Rubin Kazin (Home) | October 20, 2011
When you think of set-piece kickers for Tottenham since 2010, at least two names will pop up: Gareth Bale and Christian Eriksen. Between the two players however, there was another one. While not as prolific in the art of free-kicks. Roman Pavlyuchenko did however produce a this gem of a shot.
During Spurs’ Europa League group stage match against Rubin Kazin on October 20, 2011 Pavlyuchenko’s free-kick from 22 yards out would be the difference in a 1-0 win in the 33rd minute. The Russian international expertly struck the ball into the top-right corner of the net which Rubin Kazin goalkeeper, Sergei Ryzhikov, never stood a chance in trying to save the ball
To aim at the very top corner on the near post is hard enough. To do that while striking the ball with a lot of force and creating a fastball is even more difficult to comprehend.
Next: #12. Christian Eriksen vs Sheffield United
#12. Christian Eriksen vs Sheffield United (Away) | January 28, 2014
During Tottenham’s second leg of the Capital One Cup semi-finals, Christian Eriksen would score one of his best free-kicks since joining Spurs.
With the ball placed around the 25 yard range, Christian Eriksen would take his kick following an Érik Lamela dummy run over the ball. Both the wall and ‘keeper never budged after Lamela starter his run, as everyone knew who was going to strike the ball — they just couldn’t prevent it from going into the back of the net is all. The ball had a high arcing trajectory that hit off the far post and went in. A little inside bounce obviously helped, but that still didn’t take away from the goal itself.
Eriksen demonstrated on that day why he is one of the best free-kick specialists in the Premier League.
Next: #11. Emmanuel Adebayor vs. Chelsea
#11. Emmanuel Adebayor vs. Chelsea (Away) | May 8, 2013
As reviled as Emmanuel Adebayor ended up being, it’s sometimes hard to remember that there were two sustained periods of quality from the Togolese striker at Tottenham. The first came under Harry Redknapp, the second under Tim Sherwood. His performance under André Villas-Boas wasn’t always the best, though this goal stands as the exception.
Adebayor opened Tottenham’s account in a late-season 2-2 draw against Chelsea on May 8, 2013. In truth, it didn’t seem like Chelsea cared all that much about marking him or preventing him from shooting. Few could have guessed he’d try – much less succeed – in something so outrageous as this lob from outside the box though.
This goal serves us as a good reminder that Adebayor deserves a bit more credit for his Tottenham career.
Next: #10. Roberto Soldado vs Everton
#10. Roberto Soldado vs Everton (Home) | November 30, 2014
To put into perspective why this goal is considered one of the best, all you need to know is how much everyone wanted to see Roberto Soldado score a goal once again.
The Spanish striker had endured a rough dry spell in the Premier League, last scoring on March 2nd, 2014. Fast forward to nearly nine months later, on November, 30 2014 and Soldado’s smooth finish past Everton goalkeeper, Tim Howard, would secure all three points against Everton in front of an ecstatic crowd at White Hart Lane.
One look at the crowd, to Roberto Soldado’s big smile and some of his Tottenham teammates joining him during his celebration shows how much this goal meant to the Spainiard and to everyone who was rooting for him to score another goal.
Next: #9. Ryan Mason vs Nottingham Forest
#9. Ryan Mason vs Nottingham Forest (Home) | September 24, 2014
As a deep-lying central midfielder, Ryan Mason’s job isn’t necessarily to score goals. Of course it would help if he did, but it’s not his job to. If Mason does get opportunities to have a shot on target, more likely than not it will be from distance. Scoring a goal as a super-sub is also impressive when you’re a late second half substitution.
Against Nottingham Forest on September 24, 2014 Mason accomplished both of these feats during Tottenham’s third round fixture in the Capital One Cup. Trailing Nottingham 1-0 since the 61st minute, Ryan Mason would produce a wonder-goal from around 25 yards out to equalize the game in the 72nd minute.
This goal would be a reminder that if Mason gets an opportunity to shoot, he’ll definitely let one fly and the chances of them heading towards the net are pretty good.
Next: #8. Christian Eriksen vs. West Bromwich Albion
#8. Christian Eriksen vs. West Brom (Home) | December 26, 2013
Tottenham’s Danish playmaker is, among other things, a free-kick specialist and the best one on Mauricio Pochettino’s current squad. From certain angles outside the opposition’s penalty box, he’s close to being nearly unstoppable.
This perfectly hit free-kick against West Brom on December 26, 2013 is among Eriksen’s best for the club. He sends the ball past the Baggies’ wall and beats the keeper by several feet into the near post with little room for error. The ball pings in off the crossbar and satisfyingly bounces straight down into the goal mouth a couple of times for good measure.
Next: #7 - Danny Rose vs Arsenal
#7. Danny Rose vs Arsenal (Home) | April 14, 2010
Danny Rose’s Premier League debut for Tottenham would come against their most hated rivals, Arsenal, on April 14, 2010. To make his league debut with Spurs even more memorable Rose would be looking to score a goal. The type of goal though was very unexpected.
Following a Tottenham corner kick, Arsenal ‘keeper, Manuel Almunia, would punch the ball away but not very far and into an on-rushing Danny Rose deep from central midfielder. Who had only one thing on his mind — score… with a volley.
The ball zipped past Almunia and into the back of the net for Rose’s first goal in his Premier League debut. This would give Tottenham an early 1-0 lead in the 10th minute and eventually help secure their first win over Arsenal in 11 years.
To this day, five years later, the English left-back’s goal in the 10th minute is still, perhaps, one of the best goals ever scored against Arsenal.
Next: #6. Harry Kane vs Chelsea
#6. Harry Kane vs Chelsea | (Home) | First goal | January 1, 2015
To be matched up against the Premier League leaders, Chelsea, on January 1, 2015 was going to be a difficult task. While Harry Kane had been in-form and banging in goals at a high rate since becoming a starter in Mauricio Pochettino’s lineup, the Blues had been cruising to their fourh league title and looked unstoppable.
That is until Kane continued to score goals and help lead Tottenham to an amazing 5-3 win on New Year’s day. The English striker bagged a brace, but it was his first goal that was eye-opening.
Harry Kane would take a ball on the left flank from Danny Rose, dribble towards the top of the 18-yard box, weave through Chelsea’s defense and unleash a low-driven strike to the bottom left corner past a diving 6’6″ Thibaut Courtois in net. This goal was just the game’s equalizer but it’s what would help power Spurs through the entire game.
Next: #5 - Érik Lamela vs Burnley
#5. Érik Lamela vs Burnley (Home) | December 20, 2014
Scoring your first-ever Premier League goal is a special moment and in Érik Lamela’s case, few could have been as amazing as the Argentine’s left-footed curler against Burnley on December 20, 2014.
After Harry Kane had struck first to give Tottenham the lead in the 21st minute, Burnley’s Ashley Barnes would equalize just six minutes later. Looking like a stalemate for the time being, Lamela thought otherwise and decided to take a shot from distance.
Upon receiving a pass from Ryan Mason on the right flank, Lamela would travel inside, towards the top of the penalty box and unleash a shot to the upper-left corner past the outstretched body of Burnley goalkeeper, Tom Heaton.
Next: #4. Harry Kane vs Arsenal
#4. Harry Kane vs Arsenal | (Home) | Second goal | February 7, 2015
This was Harry Kane’s first-ever north London derby in his Tottenham carrer.
As Mauricio Pochettino’s new talisman since November 2014 and producing goals at a high rate last term, the English striker would not disappoint on February 7, 2015 as Kane would deliver in spectacular fashion.
With Arsenal and Spurs engaged in a entertaining, yet nail-biting 1-1 game. Harry Kane would seal all three points for Tottenham with an outrageous header, as he would be backtracking a bit before jumping up to head the ball in the 86th minute and have it barely squeak under the crossbar in the upper left-hand corner.
A brace for Kane was capped off by a great header against Arsenal, Spurs’ most fiercest rivals. This game and the Kane’s second goal would become one of the Lilywhites’ best moments from last season and will be talked about for years to come.
Next: #3. Érik Lamela vs Asteras Tripoli
#3. Érik Lamela vs Asteras Tripoli (H) | October 23, 2014
The Rabona.
A goal so ridiculous by default in terms of skill, pulling it off during a live match and scoring as well. Explaining this goal doesn’t do it justice, but here’s to trying anyways.
Érik Lamela’s Rabona would be named as ‘the best goal of the 2014-15 Europa League competition’ last season which already says enough.
With his plant leg (right leg) firmly planted, Lamela would swing his kicking leg (left leg) around his plant leg and launch an audacious goal just outside the 18-yard box giving Tottenham their second goal of the match.
Describing the goal in nice words isn’t enough, therefore this goal was just filthy.
Next: #2. Gareth Bale vs. Inter Milan
#2. Gareth Bale vs. Inter Milan (Away) | Hat-trick | October 20, 2010
A hat-trick should be disqualified because each player on this list has a single goal. But for Gareth Bale, he gets a pass because he single-handedly almost brought Tottenham back and level with Inter Milan.
For that alone, in a game where Spurs were down to 10-men after 11 minutes and trailing 4-0 after 35 minutes, it’s hard to not lump all three goals together. Seeing as how this quite literally helped make Gareth Bale… Gareth Bale, a world-class winger.
It’s the stuff of legends, so to speak and Bale’s hat-trick against Inter Milan on October 20, 2010 in the UEFA Champions League group stage at the San Siro, is one of the best hat-tricks an individual could ever perform given the handicap Spurs were dealt with.
Next: #1. Peter Crouch vs Manchester City
#1. Peter Crouch vs Manchester City (A) | 5/5/10
All 19 goals on this list are some of the best in Tottenham’s recent history when looking back at the start of 2010. But the one that tops them all is none other than Peter Crouch’s 82nd minute goal against Manchester City.
The goal may have been a header, but it’s the setup that makes this goal the best ever since 2010. Tottenham center-back Younès Kaboul would deliver a cross, into the 6-yard box only to have Manchester City goalkeeper, Marton Fulop, parry it away.
Unfortunately for Fulop, his deflection wouldn’t go very far. In fact, it would be within reach of Peter Crouch’s 6’8″ frame and the striker would be able to head the ball into the back of the net ending the Citizens’ hopes of playing in the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League.
Next: How Spurs Lost: Home vs Newcastle
Peter Crouch’s goal at the Eastlands before it became known as the Etihad Stadium, is perhaps one of the most legendary goals in Tottenham’s 133 years of existence. And even more so in Spurs’ 24th consecutive season in the Premier League since it’s formation. Crouch propelled the Lilywhites to their first-ever fourth place finish as well as reaching the Champions League for the first time in Club history.