Spurs stories | David Ginola - the glory and the ‘miracle’

David Ginola thrilled fans in a Spurs shirt for three years, 1997-2000, producing a highlight reel that endeared him to the White Hart Lane faithful - never more so than on a December evening 26 years ago, when he pulled the strings against Manchester United, the future treble-winners, in the quarter-final of the League Cup.

The Frenchman scored and produced a scintillating performance as we beat United 3-1 that night - 2 December, 1998 - en route to winning the competition against Leicester City at Wembley. That same season he was named both the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Player of the Year, despite United’s treble achievement.

Ginola went on to score 22 goals in 124 appearances and as the teams meet again at the same stage of the same competition, who better for Andy Greeves to speak for our latest In The Spotlight feature for our Official Matchday Programme ahead of another potential night to remember in N17.

We take on Manchester United in a Carabao Cup quarter-final tie this evening. What memories do you have of facing the Red Devils at this stage of the competition some 26 years ago?

David: "Well, first of all, we were coming up against one of the best teams in Manchester United’s history… the team that went on to win the ‘treble’ that season. It was obviously a big challenge for us taking on an opponent like that. Collectively, we were very focused on what we wanted to achieve and we were able to do that. Personally, it was a game where I was able to make things possible. It was a special game and a special result."

Can you describe your goal that night?

David: "It was around 20-25 yards from goal and Ryan Giggs was in front of me. I collected the ball and then I just stopped for a moment. I have spoken to Manchester United players since that game, they said ‘we never knew whether you were going left or right!’ On that occasion, I decided to go left and strike the ball with my left foot and it went past the goalkeeper. It was a great feeling seeing it hit the back of the net."

How much did you and your teammates enjoy the run in the League Cup that season and going on to win the trophy with a 1-0 victory over Leicester City in the final?

David: "It was very special. We knew, at that time, we were not in contention to win the Premier League. But we knew that we could possibly make something happen in the cup competitions. To go to Wembley, to win a trophy for the club, that was amazing. The most important thing winning that competition was it was a reward for our fans. They were always behind us and they had been waiting a number of years for a trophy. So, we were very happy to give them that cup."

You were presented with the PFA and FWA Player of the Year awards at the end of the 1998/99 season. What did those awards mean to you?

David: "It was emotional to be presented with those awards. I didn’t know I would win so it was a big surprise. When I speak to Manchester United players from that era, they say that even though their team had a number of players they feel could have won the Player of the Year award, they also said that I deserved it. That means a lot to me. When you reach a certain age... I was 32 at the time... some people write you off and think your best days are behind you. I was always determined to prove people wrong in the latter stages of my career. You see now with players like Messi and Ronaldo, how well players can perform even when they are 34, 35, 36 etc. when they are training properly, eating well. They can still play and give their best. The 1998/99 season was one of my best as a professional footballer for sure."

During the season, you scored a remarkable winner in an FA Cup quarter-final at Barnsley. Can you talk us through that one?

David: "It was 0-0 towards the end of the game. We came up against a team with a very strong defence. We found it difficult to move forward easily. I remember collecting the ball on the left touchline, starting my run forwards. I had that feeling that nothing could stop me and I went all the way towards the goal and put the ball in the back of the net to score that important goal. I can recall the look on my team-mates’ faces when they came to congratulate me after the goal... it was a look of relief as Barnsley had been such a difficult team to break down!"

You joined Spurs from Newcastle United in the summer of 1997. What was it that attracted you to make the move?

David: "I learnt that summer that Tottenham were looking to sign players with flair, so that was appealing to me. I can remember after signing, reading articles describing me as a ‘luxury player’ blah, blah, blah. Some of their descriptions were not very nice. Those people did not know how I work, how I am mentally strong and how I can adapt myself to different managers. During my time at Spurs of course we had Gerry Francis, Christian Gross, David Pleat and George Graham. I remember when I was 16, my first manager said to me ‘success is 10% talent and 90% perspiration’. I believed in that. I wanted to prove to my team-mates every season in training that I was working harder than anyone else. Sometimes when you have talent in your feet, people might think you’re arrogant and you don’t like to work much. I wanted to show I wasn’t this kind of character. So, if we went for a run, I wanted to be the player leading the run. If we were jumping, I wanted to jump the highest. If you have that mindset, dribbling on the football pitch... that’s easy. You make things easy for yourself by working hard. And that’s what I did at Spurs."

You had an incredible relationship with our supporters. How special was it for you playing in front of them?

David: "Every time we played at White Hart Lane, it felt like going home for me and being with my family. I also knew the expectancy on me from the supporters. When the ball wasn’t coming to me, the fans were waiting. And as soon as the ball arrived with me, there was a moment of silence as they waited to see what I would do. Every time I got the ball, the people were expecting something special."

You were at our last game at White Hart Lane against Manchester United back in May 2017 and you also played for Spurs Legends against Inter Forever here at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April 2019. What were those experiences like for you?

David: "Well, in terms of the game at the new stadium, it was obviously a case of not being as fit as you once were! But what a day it was… being in the same dressing room as legends of Tottenham’s history and also Inter Milan. I could have played more minutes than I did on the day but my heart is such that I need to be careful not to over-exert myself on the football pitch. Going back to Spurs is always emotional for me, for many reasons. I was a player of the club and I felt so great to be part of this club. When you move to different clubs, you often get a feeling of whether it is going to be a good club for you or not. Straight away when I joined Spurs I thought ‘I’m going to be okay here’."

We were shocked to hear about the cardiac arrest you suffered in May 2016. So, to ask you a very important question. How are you?

David: "Life affords you a second chance sometimes and I was afforded that. When I left hospital in Monaco after my surgery, the surgeon said to me; ‘you need to understand this is a proper miracle… nine out of 10 people don’t survive the situation you were in’. The surgeon was amazed at my recovery given I had been in the situation where I was dead for eight minutes. My life was saved by someone who performed CPR on me. I felt truly blessed to leave the hospital, and to still be living my life."

You spoke to our former player Graeme Souness as part of an awareness campaign for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) earlier in the year. That must have been an emotional experience for you both?

David: "I have a lot of respect for Graeme. The day we spoke on camera was like two mates meeting up who had encountered the same issue, talking about it with a lot of emotion at the fact we are both survivors. God has been very nice for us, compared to other people who sadly didn’t have that chance. I do a lot for BHF. I am an ambassador of theirs because I think it is hugely important to let people know that heart disease, cardiac arrest, are a huge cause of mortality. Doing campaigns, raising money and awareness… particularly in getting people to learn how to do CPR. The BHF provides complimentary CPR training with RevivR (revivr.bhf.org.uk). This tool and just your phone and a cushion can teach you CPR in just 15 minutes. It is so important. It can literally save lives."

What else have you been up to since retiring from playing?

David: "I have been very busy. I have shot some movies. I presented ‘France Has Got Talent’ (La France a un incroyable talent) for four years. I currently work with Canal Plus covering football matches. I have some other business interests and involvement with charities. And the most important thing, is looking after my family and spending time with them."