The number nine shirt carries a unique weight at any football club, symbolising the chief goalscorer, the focal point of the attack, and the player tasked with delivering the ultimate currency in football: goals.
At Tottenham Hotspur, the famous jersey has been worn by some of the most iconic, clinical, and beloved figures ever to grace the pitch.
Here, Read Tottenham rank the five greatest traditional number nines in the illustrious history of Spurs.
5. Les Ferdinand
When “Sir Les” arrived at White Hart Lane in 1997, he brought a towering aerial presence and an unrelenting work ethic.
Though his early seasons were disrupted by injuries, Ferdinand’s impact during a difficult era for the club was immense. He formed a lethal partnership with Teddy Sheringham and famously scored the 10,000th goal in Premier League history in 2001.
Ferdinand’s power, leadership, and 39 club goals earned him a permanent place in the hearts of the shelf-side faithful.
4. Martin Chivers
A powerhouse forward who dominated the late 1960s and early 1970s, “Big Chiv” was a modern number nine before his time. Gifted with explosive pace, a thumping shot, and an imposing physical frame, Chivers was the spearhead for Bill Nicholson’s second great Spurs side.
He scored 174 goals for the club, including unforgettable match-winning braces in the 1971 League Cup Final and the 1972 UEFA Cup Final, writing his name indelibly into Tottenham folklore.
3. Dimitar Berbatov
Few players in the modern era have combined lethal finishing with such effortless elegance as Dimitar Berbatov.
Signing for Spurs in 2006, the Bulgarian maestro redefined what it meant to be a modern number nine. Berbatov scored 46 goals in just 102 appearances, lighting up White Hart Lane with his sublime first touch, deceptive movement, and ice-cold composure.
His starring role in the 2008 League Cup triumph cemented his legacy as a true Tottenham icon.
2. Bobby Smith
A colossal figure in Bill Nicholson’s legendary 1960/61 Double-winning side, Bobby Smith was the quintessential English centre-forward.
He was a powerhouse who terrified defenders with his physical strength, yet possessed a devastatingly accurate finish. Smith scored a staggering 208 goals in 317 matches for Tottenham, making him the third-highest goalscorer in the club’s history.
His goals fired Spurs to two FA Cups, a First Division title, and the 1963 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
1. Jimmy Greaves
While Harry Kane may hold the all-time scoring record, Jimmy Greaves remains the undisputed, definitive number nine in Tottenham history.
Greaves was not just a goalscorer; he was a footballing genius. In 379 appearances for Spurs, he netted an incredible 266 goals.
His positional intelligence, breathtaking acceleration, and uncanny ability to effortlessly slot the ball past oncoming goalkeepers have never been replicated. Greaves remains the benchmark for any striker looking to lead the line in North London.
