Dele Alli Made His Tottenham Debut Eight Months Ago Today

Dele Alli’s rise from League One’s MK Dons to the Premier League with Tottenham has been one of best success stories in a crazy Premiership since the start of August.

This season has come and gone for Tottenham who are trying to close in on Leicester City for first place and a chance to lift the Premier League trophy. But for Dele Alli, and surely everyone else, it feels just like yesterday that the 19-year-old burst onto the scene against Manchester United in the season opener at Old Trafford.

Plenty has happened for the young central midfielder-turned-attacking midfielder after injuries to Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-Min opened the door for a change at the number 10 spot just behind Harry Kane.

With 25 league starts in 29 appearances, seven goals (a new club record for a teenager surpassing Nick Barmby’s record of six goals during the 1992-93 season), nine assists, a full England debut with a 25-yard goal against France and starting against Germany in England’s 3-2 friendly win. The 2015-16 season has definitely been one to remember for Dele Alli.

To think that it’s been eight months to this day — August 8, 2015 — that a seemingly unknown 19-year-old made his presence known in short order and has been one of Tottenham’s best players this year since then, is amazing.

Despite tearing it up in League One, the third tier of English football, plenty of fans had to be skeptical that All’s form couldn’t be replicated in the Premier League.

Which honestly makes sense. The Premiership is very difficult. Every club can beat up anyone and it’s more physical to boot.

But, after scoring off the bench in the 81st minute against Leicester at the King Power Stadium (in his third game) and making his first start for Tottenham against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light (in his fifth game), everyone became instant believers that Mauricio Pochettino and Paul Mitchell had unearthed a gem who was young, talented, gifted and homegrown.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – APRIL 02: Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur warms up prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on April 2, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) /

“It’s been crazy,” Dele Alli talking to Tottenham’s official website. “Perhaps when I made that debut at Old Trafford I wasn’t expecting so much to happen this season.”

“I worked hard in pre-season and it felt like that was the reward, my debut at Old Trafford. It was a great feeling to be out there. It took a lot of hard work to get there and I have to give a lot of thanks to the manager for putting his trust and faith in me.”

“I’ve always had confidence in my ability but I’m surprised by how quickly it’s all happened. It still hasn’t all sunk in yet. It’s going to take a while to realise what’s happened this season.”

“When there are so many games you just focus on each game and don’t really think too much about it. I’m sure I will at the end of the season.”

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Since Alli’s high-flying start to his Premier League and Tottenham career, he formed a great bond with Eric Dier early in the season. To the point that they’re close to each other like brothers.

When both Alli and Dier formed a new double pivot this year, not only was it better than last season’s pairing of Nabil Bentaleb and Ryan Mason, but they helped create a formidable defense.

Adding on top of that with an impervious back line and one of the league’s best goalkeepers in Hugo Lloris, Tottenham’s defense effectively stymied any attack from opponents giving Spurs the best defensive record with 25 goals conceded.

Offensive-wise, now that Christian Eriksen and Son Heung-Min are playing out wide to accommodate Alli playing higher up the pitch — which in turn gives Mousa Dembélé starts alongside Eric Dier — the Dele Alli-Harry Kane partnership has simply been devastating to opposing defenses.

Since the new year in the Premier League, the two players have combined for 14 goals and seven assists. In total they have managed 29 goals and 10 assists.

Here, you have to figure out which player you want to defend.

Harry Kane is Tottenham’s leading goalscorer but behind him is Alli. Should teams cover the 19-year-old and prevent him from scoring, he has a knack for finding teammates for goals, namely Kane. If teams defend Alli, then Kane will make them pay. If both can’t score, there are others who can. It’s a nightmare essentially.

Overall, it’s crazy to think that eight months have gone by in a flash, but it’s more crazy to think that despite all the success that Dele Alli has gotten. Not only is he still just a teenager, but he’s doing all of this in his first-ever Premier League season.

Next: Tottenham's Pace: The Key Against United

Against Manchester United at White Hart Lane tomorrow, the very same opponents that Dele Alli made his Premier League debut, he knows the importance of this game along with the remaining fixtures before the end of the season.

“This is a massive game for us and a massive game for the fans as well,” Alli added “We want to win every match no matter where we are or what we’re fighting for but the fact that we’re up there in second certainly gives it that little more edge and makes us even more hungry to succeed.”

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