Search icon

Sport

07th May 2016

Spurs’ Player of the Season has been announced…and it’s neither Harry Kane nor Dele Alli

Well deserved?

Matt Tate

Despite failing to catch newly-crowned Champions of England Leicester City, it’s obvious that Tottenham Hotspur have had a pretty impressive season.

As the youngest team in the Premier League, Spurs are all but certain to record their highest ever league position with the best goal difference in the division, and the leading goalscorer in Harry Kane.

But it’s not the England frontman who the fans have named as their standout player this season. Nor was it Dele Alli, the PFA Young Player of the Season.

The Tottenham fans have crowned Toby Alderweireld as their star performer in this one-of-a-kind campaign. After signing for the North London club in the summer, the classy Belgian centre-back was reunited with his international and former Ajax teammate Jan Vertonghen, and the well-trodden partnership’s effectiveness did not diminish.

Spurs will likely end the season with the league’s best defence, and fans were quick to praise Alderweireld for his contribution.

https://twitter.com/TheTacticsRoom/status/728946160132624384

https://twitter.com/Madz_UK/status/728945019042811905

https://twitter.com/superspurs34/status/728940069265022976

The award is even more impressive when you consider who Alderweireld was up against.

Harry Kane has matched his incredible 2014/15 breakout season and notched up 25 league goals, while youngsters Dele Alli and Eric Dier have both been instrumental in Spurs’ title-chasing season.

Danny Rose’s performances have put him in contention for an England call-up; Hugo Lloris has been as consistent as ever in goal, and Mousa Dembele – despite the six-game ban he has now received for scratching Diego Costa’s eye – has become one of Mauricio Pochettino’s most important players.

You could make a case for much of the squad, but it’s nice to see a defender receive the plaudits.