Tottenham’s Alli Will Use First Name on Shirt for Personal Reasons
Dele Alli will sport a new look on his Tottenham shirt this season.
Tottenham’s kit will see another change in the form of Dele Alli’s name. The 20-year-old midfielder has decided to switch his last name in favor of his first, but will still keep the number 20.
This decision wasn’t easy for Alli, but he has stated a change was needed due to personal reasons. Many fans have been accustomed to seeing the name Alli emblazoned on the back of Spurs’ lilywhite shirt, but after reading what Alli’s personal reasons are, it’s only appropriate to respect them.
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“I wanted a new name on my shirt that represented who I am and I feel I have no connection with the Alli surname,” Dele Alli said (via London Evening Standard).
“This is not a decision I have taken without a lot of thought and discussion with family close to me.”
To reconfirm, Tottenham’s official Twitter account tweeted this:
.@Dele_Alli will retain number 20 but for personal reasons has elected to have the name 'DELE' displayed on the reverse of his match shirts.
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 12, 2016
Players tend to use their first name for different reasons, from Manchester United’s Memphis Depay, to Chelsea’s Willian and Oscar.
Memphis Depay’s reason to only use the name “Memphis” is almost similar to that of Dele Alli. When the Dutch winger was still a child, his father left his mother. Something as big as that when you’re a kid growing up sticks with you forever.
Earlier this year back on January 10th, The Sun broke a story about Alli’s past when he was younger by speaking to his biological mother, Denise.
To recap, Denise, decided to give up her son because she was an alcoholic triggered by an unhappy childhood, and because of gangs that were in the Bradford area of Milton Keynes where they lived.
“I had to let him go to give him a better future,” Denise Alli said. “Emotionally, it was heartbreaking but it was the right thing to do.”
“I had a serious drinking problem triggered by my unhappy childhood. I was hooked on vodka, beer — anything — for a few years.”
“Social Services visited me after complaints from my neighbours about how I was raising my children but my kids were never taken away.”
“It was my decision to let Dele live with another family. I knew that was the only way he could fulfill his dream of becoming a professional footballer.”
“It was tough to give up my son but it proved to be his salvation. I’m so thankful for how things have turned out.”
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As for the gangs mentioned above, here’s Denise shedding some light on the rough neighborhood they lived in.
“All the kids Dele’s age were on the streets smoking, arguing and robbing. Some ended up in prison. I was worried my son would be tempted by that hood life.”
“He was challenging at times, like most lads. He had to change secondary school and never settled at his first school.”
“The Hickfords weren’t my friends but they had a nice home and I knew I had to give my son this chance to move on with his life and succeed.”
“When he left, there were no tears, just a sense of relief because I knew he would be off the streets and safe.”
“Dele told me, ‘I’m fine Mum. Don’t worry about me.’ He hugged me.”
“It was tough but he was happy and I was happy. “Despite giving him away I have never been estranged from Dele.”
“He would come back to my place for a sleepover about once every month. He is also close to his biological dad.. Kenny is so proud of him.”
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Dele Alli will now join other Premier League stars who are called by their first names instead of the more accustomed surnames that is usually seen on their shirts.
It’s a big change for Alli, personally, but fans will get used to seeing the name “Dele” very soon once the season kicks off tomorrow at Goodison Park against Everton.