My favourite European goal - Jermain Defoe

Harry Kane became the Club’s all-time record European goalscorer last season with the winner against Borussia Dortmund in our Champions League Round of 16, second leg win in March - goal number 24 in 50 appearances in European competition for the striker. To mark the achievement, we put together a mini-series highlighting the favourite European goals of our top four European marksmen.

Hot on the heels of Mark Falco and Martin Chivers in this series, Jermain Defoe ended Martin’s 30-year reign as our top European goalscorer when he scored his 23rd goal in a Europa League group stage match against FC Sheriff in November, 2013. Martin was on hand at the Lane to congratulate him at the final whistle.

For Jermain’s favourite European goal, we go back to 2010 and having played in the European Cup in 1961/62, our first campaign in the Champions League, the competition rebranded in 1992.

Jermain Defoe

- 23 goals in 35 European appearances, 143 goals in 363 appearances in all competitions, 2004-14
- Sixth in our all-time goalscoring list, the Club's all-time European goalscorer from 2013-2019

Spurs 4-0 BSC Young Boys

Champions League play-off, second leg, White Hart Lane – 25 August, 2010

On the 50th anniversary of the double season, we were one step away from taking our place in the group stage of the Champions League. First up though, having finished fourth in the Premier League in 2009/10, a play-off against BSC Young Boys of Switzerland.

To say things didn’t start well is an understatement. Playing on an artificial surface at the Stade de Suiss in Bern, we found ourselves 3-0 down inside 30 minutes with Lulic, Bienvenu and Hochstrasser on target. We were stunned.

Was our Champions League dream over before it had begun? Thankfully not. Sebastien Bassong replied before the break and Roman Pavlyuchenko fired in a crucial second to leave us trailing by the only goal going into the second leg.

The result was never in doubt back at the Lane. Noise levels were ramped up to the maximum, the Champions League anthem played for the first time at the old stadium and in pouring rain, we swept away our Swiss opponents. Peter Crouch led the way with a hat-trick including a nerve-settling opener on five minutes.

Jermain’s goal made it 2-0 on the night and put us ahead in the tie, controlling Gareth Bale’s pass, getting away from his marker and lashing home off the post from the edge of the box. Pace, strength, quick feet and a deadly finish - all the hallmarks of a Defoe strike.

It was the start of a memorable run to the quarter-finals of the competition including victories over Inter, Twente and Werder Bremen at home and AC Milan away in the last 16 before we were beaten by Real Madrid.

Jermain's memories...

“It was such an important game and the goal, I was off balance after the turn and I had to quickly compose myself because I wanted to finish that chance and get us ahead in the tie. I wanted to beat the goalkeeper at his near post and I hit it perfectly, in off the post. I watched it again the other day! I was watching my ‘100 goals’ DVD with my nephew!

“Those nights - the atmosphere, the all-white kit, under the lights in the Champions League - there is no better feeling. The main thing was to get into the Champions League. We wanted to get in there and compete at that level. Not reaching the group stage would have been a nightmare and that’s why that goal is so special for me, my first in the Champions League. I’ll never forget that goal.”