Tottenham, formed in 1882 as Hotspur Football Club, remain the only team to win the FA Cup as a non-league club - they did so in 1901. Spurs were elected to the Football League in 1908 and their steady rise to the higher echelons of the game was confirmed by the Division One title triumph of 1951. Another league title arrived a decade later to spark a glittering phase in the club's history. Under patriarch Bill Nicholson, Spurs added a third FA Cup in 1961 and retained the trophy 12 months later, before winning the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1963 - the first British team to take a continental crown. Further European honours came with UEFA Cup triumphs in 1972 and 1984 but league success remained elusive and the club even sank into the Second Division in 1977 after Nicholson's retirement. Spurs' proud FA Cup record remained intact, though, and an eighth win was wrapped up in 1991 before they took their place as founder members of the FA Premier League in 1992. And more silverware arrived as George Graham brought the League Cup to White Hart Lane for a third time in 1999 as Spurs triumphed 1-0 over Leicester at Wembley.

The north London outfit have brought a galaxy of stars to the FA Premier League and inspired fans with some flamboyant and exciting football. The signing of German striker Jurgen Klinsmann from Monaco in 1994 paved the way for many of the league's top foreign imports. Former Spurs and Argentina hero Ossie Ardiles, and later Gerry Francis, engineered a fearsome attacking line-up around Klinsmann.

The club turned to one of its favourite sons in 2001 as Glenn Hoddle took charge with the promise of a new era of stylish football. The arrivals of Robbie Keane and Jamie Redknapp, followed by Fredi Kanoute, boosted optimism among the supporters. However, in September 2003, Hoddle was sacked after a poor start to the season with Jacques Santini appointed in June 2004 after a lengthy search. Martin Jol took over when Santini departed in November 2004.

Former Sevilla coach Juande Ramos took over in 2007 and promptly handed Spurs the 2008 League Cup beating favourites Chelsea in the final. However his time came to an shortly after when he was fired and replaced by Harry Redknapp