Tottenham’s greatest European games – British history made, that night in Amsterdam
Thomas Frank will have the privilege of guiding Tottenham out in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Ange Postecoglou ended a 17-year trophy drought in North London by winning the UEFA Europa League with Tottenham last season.
However, as a result of Spurs’ dismal form in the Premier League, which saw the North London outfit finish 17th, the Australian was sacked by Daniel Levy.
Frank was hired as Postecoglou’s replacement, which means the Dane will have the opportunity to manage Tottenham in the Champions League after the Lilywhites qualified for the competition by winning the Europa League.
He’ll start this season’s Champions League adventure at home against Villarreal on Tuesday night and ahead of their return to Europe’s elite competition, Tottenham News takes a look back at Spurs’ greatest nights on the continent.
Tottenham 1 – 0 Manchester United (21 May 2025)
After 17 long years, Tottenham fans saw their team win a trophy as captain Son Heung-min hoisted the Europa League high into the Bilbao sky.
It was Brennan Johnson who scored for the Lilywhites just before half-time, and after an incredible defensive display in the second half, which included a remarkable goal-line clearance from Micky van de Ven, Tottenham held on to beat United.
It was the perfect end to Son’s decade-long stay with Tottenham, with the South Korean joining LAFC just a few months later.
And although there was to be no third season for Postecoglou, the 59-year-old ensured he would always be part of Spurs’ history.
Ajax 2 – 3 Tottenham (8 May 2019)
It’s difficult to imagine any game which doesn’t involve lifting a trophy ever feeling quite as special as this one for Tottenham supporters.
After losing the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash with Ajax at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 1-0, Mauricio Pochettino’s side then found themselves 3-0 down on aggregate at half-time in the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
Any hopes of reaching the final seemed to be dead and buried – but up stepped Lucas Moura, with the Brazilian scoring perhaps the most famous hat-trick in the history of the Champions League in the second half.
The winger netted twice before the hour mark, and with seconds left to play, it looked as though it was too little too late, but as the clock ticked one second over the allotted minimum of five minutes added time, Lucas got on the end of a Dele Alli flick to score one of the most famous goals in Tottenham history.
The post-match scenes were something special, and while Tottenham would eventually lose the final against Liverpool in Madrid, nothing will ever take away from how incredible that night in Amsterdam was.
Tottenham 5 – 1 Atletico Madrid (15 May 1963)
One of the most famous nights in Spurs’ history.
Tottenham were a dominant force in the early 1960s, with the late great Bill Nicholson cementing himself as Spurs’ greatest ever manager.
Under Nicholson, the Lilywhites became the first team in the 20th century to win the double as they lifted both the First Division and FA Cup during the 1960/61 season.
And two years later, Spurs became the first British team to win a major European trophy as they defeated Atletico Madrid 5-1 in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final.
Tottenham 1 – 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (17 May 1972)
One of the greatest-ever nights at White Hart Lane.
After a 1-1 draw in North London, Tottenham secured a 3-2 win over Wolves on aggregate to win the inaugural UEFA Cup and become the first British club to win two different European trophies.
Tottenham 1 – 1 Anderlecht (23 May 1984)
Ahead of the final of the UEFA Cup in 1984, news had emerged that Keith Burkinshaw would be leaving Tottenham at the end of the season, which gave the players all the motivation they needed to win the competition for their manager.
After a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Brussels, Tottenham had a chance to win another UEFA Cup in front of their fans at White Hart Lane, twelve years after their victory over Wolves.
Anderlecht took the lead in the second leg, but with seven minutes to play, Graham Roberts crashed home the equaliser for Tottenham.
Spurs would eventually win the trophy after a dramatic penalty shoot-out, as Berkinshaw’s final match in charge of Tottenham ended fittingly.
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