Ricky Villa

Memories came flooding back for Spurs fans when a Nationwide survey found the second best goal ever scored at Wembley to be the Ricardo Villa vintage from 1981. We know it was the best - and many others are in agreement.

Ricky contacted the official Spurs website recently to send his regards to fans and all at the club. We replied with a few questions for the 1978 World Cup winner because he is, after all, a true Spurs legend.

Where did your career take you following your departure from Spurs?

After my spell at the Tottenham, I played a season in the United States (Miami Strickers), Colombia (Deportivo Cali) and finished my career in Argentina, at the club that at the moment I am directing, Defensa y Justícia.

You mentioned to us that you are now running a football team, who are they and at what level does the club play?

I´m running Defensa y Justicia (Defense & Justice), it's one of the most popular teams from southern Great Buenos Aires. The club is in "Nacional B" division, and we are working to put it in the upper category next year. I´m working hard with my team and our league is really competitive. In a very demanding season we are working with a small group of young players.

Do you miss playing and living in England and if so, what do you miss the most?

Yes, of course I miss many things. The people, the good level of the league, the seriousness of the club.

Do you still follow the fortunes of Spurs and what do you think of the current team?

Yes, I follow them permanently and I am informed, but I cannot formulate an opinion because the truth is that I have seen them playing too few times.

What was it like being one of the early foreign players to come to England and was it difficult to settle in?

Yes, we were the first ones arriving to the league and this was an honour for us. The first times in England were hard because we didn't know the language, but the club supported us a lot and people were also very warm. This made us feel comfortable

Yourself and Ossie were the biggest overseas players to play in England in the late seventies and early eighties, we now have hundreds of imported players in the Premiership. What do you think about this (good or bad) and do you feel that you paved the way for overseas players to try England?

I think that the arrival of foreign players gives the Premiership prestige. I also believe that the step of Ossie and mine was successful and it opened doors to future players.

Are you still in touch with Ossie, and do you hear from any of your old Tottenham team-mates?

Of course we are in touch with Ossie, he is now the head coach of one of the best teams in Japan and he has a serious chance to run Japan´s national team. I ask about all our old team-mates.

You said when you made contact that Tottenham should always have an Argentinian player. We have one in Mauricio Taricco. Do you know of him and what do you feel he brings to the team?

It is great that Mauricio Taricco is playing at Tottenham. I don't know him too much but I'm sure he is contributing things to the team.

If Tottenham embarked on a spending spree in Argentina, which players would you like to see come to White Hart Lane?

For me there are four players of quality I'd like to play for Tottenham. Sabiola (River Plate), Aimar (River Plate), Riquelme (Boca Junior) and Manso (Newuls all boys).

We all fondly remember your goal in the FA Cup final replay. It is still described over here as perhaps the greatest ever goal in the competition. Is that your favourite memory of your time at the club?

I always remember my goal in the final of the FA Cup, and it was one of the more important moments of my footballer career.

And finally

Do Tottenham have a following in Argentina and does English football in general receive much coverage?

The club is famous and well known in Argentina. Of course Tottenham has followers, some of them are my four children. Yes, English football receives as much coverage as all the European leagues.

My best wishes for all of you there at White Hart Lane.
Ricardo Villa