Tottenham Hotspur have had their fair share of legends and cult heroes over the decades.
From the icons of yesteryear like Jimmy Greaves to contemporary stars like Robbie Keane, plenty of players have enthralled Spurs fans for generations.
Gareth Bale is one such icon, joining Tottenham as a talented prospect and leaving as the world’s most expensive player at the time.
Bale has played with some great talents over his career, including a fair few at Spurs.
Indeed, one defender who was at N17 at the same time as Bale was once described by the Welshman as the best centre-back he had ever seen.
Gareth Bale hails Tottenham icon Ledley King
The player in question is Ledley King, who played for Tottenham between 1999 and 2012.
In March 2021, Bale took part in a Q&A on Twitch where he gave his all-time five-a-side team composed of Spurs players.
King made the cut alongside Hugo Lloris, Tanguy Ndombele, Harry Kane and Son Heung-min.
“I’d go Hugo in goal just because he’s the best I’ve seen in a Tottenham shirt because I’m 31 (at the time it went out) and I’m not that old,” he explained, as per football.london.
“I would go Ledley King at the back just because he’s the king and he was the best centre-back I’ve ever seen.
“If it wasn’t for injuries he would have been the best in the world no doubt.”
Bale continued: “I would go upfront Harry for the amount of goals he’s scored and he’s an amazing player. Then I’d go me and Sonny beside him.”
When he was asked why he didn’t select Ndombele or Mousa Dembele in the middle of the park, he said: “I’ve only got five and I feel loyal to Sonny and H. I’ve got to see them tomorrow.
“Actually I’d take myself out and put Tanguy in. I’ll be manager.”
Ledley King’s Tottenham career
King was born in Bow in 1980 and played for Senrab FC – the team which also produced the likes of Jermain Defoe, John Terry and Ezri Konsa – as a youngster.
The defender joined Tottenham as a trainee in July 1996 and progressed through the youth system before making his first-team debut in May 1999.
King made 323 competitive appearances for Spurs, registering 14 goals and eight goals, and he lifted the 2008 League Cup, the last major trophy won by the Lilywhites.
Harry Redknapp was recently asked to build a combined XI of his former players and today’s current crop of Spurs stars, and was asked to pick between King and Micky van de Ven.
