Q and A: Extra-time with Ledley King…
Q What was the highlight of your time at Tottenham?
A Winning the Carling Cup in 2008 and being captain was the best moment for me, but qualifying for the Champions League in 2010 was the next biggest thing. It felt like we won something at the time. To know we would be playing against the best club teams and best players around was what it was all about.
Q What was the best Spurs team you played in?
A The season that I retired, 2011-12, we had a strong team. Sometimes I go through the players that weren’t playing – Roman Pavlyuchenko, Niko Kranjcar, Steven Pienaar – and that lets me know how strong the team was. Part of me wishes we could have done more. We had a talented team.
Q Who was the best player you played with at White Hart Lane?
A Talent-wise, maybe David Ginola. When I was young he could do things not many people could do. He had a good left and right foot, great balance, he was a big strong man. But then Gareth Bale reached a level where I don’t think I’ve seen anyone play at that level for Tottenham. Edgar Davids was a great in the game, it’s hard to pick one.
Q Are you concerned returning to Spurs as a manager could damage your club legend status if it all goes wrong?
A I’ve seen Glenn Hoddle, a legend at the club, be a manager and get sacked. But that’s part of the business and that’s why you want to get into it. You want to test yourself and try to win things, that should overtake the negative side of things.
Q Is the north London derby with Arsenal still as important as it once was?
A I think the rivalry is still intense. There are not as many British players as there might have been 15 years ago, but players know that this is the biggest game.