Tue 28 July 2020, 11:07
Tottenham Hotspur“It’s been more than a professional relationship – we can talk about friendship.” Warm words indeed from Hugo Lloris as he bids farewell to his trusted goalkeeping comrade, Michel Vorm.
A fine servant to the Club since 2014, Michel actually left us last summer at the conclusion of his contract but, typical of the type of man he is, put his own plans on hold to come back and help us out when Hugo dislocated his elbow at the start of October, signing a deal until the end of the season.
Returning to the fold to provide competition and support for Paulo Gazzaniga during Hugo’s absence, the Dutchman once again proved to be an invaluable influence off the pitch and added one further appearance to his 47 games from his initial spell when he was selected to start our FA Cup tie at home to Norwich City in March, which we unfortunately lost on penalties, despite the goalkeeper making a fine save in the shootout.
A reliable understudy to Hugo throughout his time at the Club, our French international skipper has underlined how the 36-year-old’s contributions have been a key part of the Club’s development in recent years.
“As goalkeepers, we have an even stronger relationship,” Hugo said. “Michel is the kind of team-mate that you want to have in your team – ready to fight, ready to help the team – and he’s a great example as a professional. In one way, he’s a leader every day, showing an example every day, showing his professionalism… his voice was very important in the changing room and he’s someone who is not calculating how much he gives to us. We’re going to miss that type of person.
“I think it’s been more than a professional relationship – we can talk about friendship. He’s someone that I respect a lot – of course the player, but even more the man behind the player. Being with me every day, pushing me every day in training sessions with a good mood and a smile, always positive and always going in the team way – that’s very important. That type of person, you need to recognise them and you need to praise them because they are in the background of the big picture but they’re people who push the others and are very, very important.
“Michel is a positive person, trying always to give his best for the team, trying always to help the people around him. As I said before, it’s a way to lead a team. We don’t talk too much about him but he has been very important in the last six years, helping the young players in their development, helping the other players in pushing themselves every day in every single session. Michel deserves a lot of praise for his six years spent with the Club.”
