Remembering the greatness of Mousa Dembele at Spurs

Affectionately called “Moose” by Tottenham supporters throughout his six-and-a-half years there, Dembele was unlike any other midfielder in the league.

Mousa Dembele was always destined to be a legend at Spurs, having scored on his debut against Norwich back in September of 2012. Since then, the Belgian powerhouse has worked his way into our hearts through his dynamic and immense performances. A midfielder who could do everything but score regularly, Dembele could partner with nearly any other player. And he’s a guy who has seen many other bodies come through midfield including Nabil Bentaleb, Tom Huddlestone and Paulinho.

Every Tottenham fan has watched a compilation of his dribbles at some point. The way he glides through the center of the pitch can catch the eye of any fan no matter who they support. Dembele offered just as much strength as he did grace, however. Every match he could be expected to throw at least one opponent off of him during a run towards goal. At his peak, you simply could not take the ball away from him.

During his spell in London, Moose accumulated 242 total appearances and 10 goals. Sadly, he could have had many more if it weren’t for the deterioration of his body. Knowingly playing on crooked hips, Dembele still managed to give it everything when he could, like against Manchester United last season. These vintage matches from the Belgian would reel supporters back in and hope that he was back to 100 percent fitness.

However, this season it truly seemed like his time in the Premier League was reaching an end. The pace in England took its toll on Dembele and he cannot be blamed for heading to China. Spurs fans won’t begrudge the move, as they sung his name all match against Fulham on Sunday.

For Tottenham, there is no such thing as replacing Mousa Dembele. The club can purchase new midfielders, but no one will be able to manage the same role he did. He was truly a one-of-a-kind player in how many different assets of the game he could control.

While rare, his goals he did score were often times bangers as well as crucial. His greatest strike came against Lyon, a powerful drive into the far corner. It was an uplifting last minute winner and a sign of the massive talent on display.

So thank you Moose, and may “Ohhh Mousa Dembele” be sung forever by Tottenham fans.