Sam Allardyce astonished at info Tim Sherwood’s told him about Tottenham star – ‘You’re kidding me?’
Micky Van de Ven is going from strength to strength in the centre of Tottenham’s backline and is quickly becoming one of the best defenders in the world.
Van de Ven has been brilliant for Tottenham this season, and his performances could be rewarded with a new deal, along with a massive pay increase.
The Netherlands international has formed a strong partnership with Cristian Romero over the past few years, allowing Spurs to have a more settled backline.
So far this term, the former Wolfsburg man has played all bar one of Spurs’ Premier League matches, with the draw away at Newcastle being the only game he has sat out.
Micky van de Ven struggles away from Tottenham
While Van de Ven is one of the first names on the teamsheet for Spurs, he doesn’t have that same privilege at international level.
Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood shocked Sam Allardyce by informing him that the 24-year-old doesn’t regularly start for the Netherlands.
Sherwood said: “He can’t even play for Holland; he doesn’t even get in their team.”
Allardyce replied: “What! You’re kidding me?”
Van De Ven, who Sherwood went on to describe as “special”, has been left out for two of the last six Netherlands games, and when he does start, he is pushed out to left-back.
Ronald Koeman prefers to utilise the likes of Jurrien Timber and Matthijs De Ligt alongside Virgil van Dijk.
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Micky Van de Ven has been immense for Tottenham
Allardyce’s shock is more than understandable, as Van de Ven has proved his class during the opening stages of the 2025-26 campaign.
The Dutchman is so important for Thomas Frank’s side defensively, making 3.6 clearances and completing 3.7 recoveries per 90 in the Premier League.
Van de Ven also has a top-flight pass accuracy of 91 per cent, displaying his confidence and ability on the ball.
This season, the centre-back has made a massive impact offensively for Tottenham, already scoring three Premier League goals, as well as grabbing two in the Champions League.
From corners, Van de Ven is a real threat, but as seen against FC Copenhagen, he can also utilise his pace to drive past the opposition.
Indeed, as per FBref, Van de Ven is also in the top one percentile of all centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past 12 months for non-penalty goals per 90 minutes (0.18).
He is also in the top 86 percentile for passes completed, with the defender assured on the ball, strong defensively and a threat up the other end of the field.
If Spurs are to make a real challenge for the European places this season, then they will have to ensure they keep Van de Ven fit for the whole campaign.
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