Tottenham Hotspur Football Club (abbreviated as "Spurs", English name: Tottenham Hotspur F.C.) is a professional football club located in North London, England. It is commonly referred to as "Spurs" by fans and is nicknamed "The Lilywhites". Founded in 1882 by a group of schoolboys, it was originally named "Hotspur Football Club" and was renamed Tottenham Hotspur in 1884. The club turned professional in 1895 and joined the Southern League in 1896.
In 1901, they won the FA Cup, becoming the only non-league champion team since the establishment of the Football League in 1888, creating a miracle in football. In 1908, they joined the Football League Second Division and were promoted to the First Division the following year, finishing as runners-up. In 1921, they won the FA Cup again, solidifying their status as a representative of North London football in the early 20th century.
In 1958, under the management of Bill Nicholson, the club entered its most glorious period in history. In the 1960-61 season, they won the league and the FA Cup, becoming the first team in England to achieve this feat in the 20th century. In 1963, they defeated Atlético Madrid, becoming the first British team to win a European competition. In the 1971-72 season, they won the UEFA Cup, becoming the first British team to win two different European trophies. Over 16 years, they secured a total of 8 major trophies, including 3 FA Cups and 2 League Cups, solidifying Tottenham's position in European football.
During the 1980s, under the management of Keith Burkinshaw, the club won the FA Cup twice more, thanks to players like Glenn Hoddle, and also claimed the UEFA Cup in 1984. In 1991, Terry Venables led the team to win the FA Cup, becoming the first team to win it 8 times. The early years of the Premier League saw fluctuating performances, with League Cup victories in 1999 and 2008.
From 2014 to 2019, under the management of Mauricio Pochettino, the club rose to prominence, with players like Harry Kane and Son Heung-min becoming key figures. They finished as runners-up in the Premier League in the 2016-17 season and reached the UEFA Champions League final for the first time in the 2018-19 season, narrowly losing to Liverpool. In 2023, Ange Postecoglou took over, and in the 2024-25 season, they defeated Manchester United 1-0 to win the UEFA Europa League, ending a 17-year trophy drought, although they finished only 17th in the league, leading to a managerial change.
Tottenham Hotspur is one of the few teams in English football to have won at least one trophy every decade from the 1950s to the 2000s. After being acquired by the ENIC Group in 2001, the club's valuation has continued to rise, reaching £2.6 billion in 2024, maintaining the football glory of North London.