# 1997–98 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season

During the 1997–98 season, Tottenham Hotspur participated in the English Premier League.

## Season summary

Despite the pre-season capture of Newcastle stars David Ginola and Les Ferdinand, Tottenham Hotspur began the season badly and looked nothing like a side who were hoping to challenge for a European place. By the time Gerry Francis resigned in November, Spurs were in the relegation zone and chairman Alan Sugar was the target of more hostility than ever before. Swiss coach Christian Gross was named as Francis's successor, and soon after arriving he brought in former Spurs star Jürgen Klinsmann - who had been so successful and popular during his first spell three seasons earlier.
In the end, Tottenham beat the drop and finished 14th in the final table. Klinsmann retired from playing, to draw the curtain on a brilliant career.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 12 | Southampton | 38 | 14 | 6 | 18 | 50 | 55 | −5 | 48 | |
| 13 | Newcastle United | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 35 | 44 | −9 | 44 | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 14 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 44 | 56 | −12 | 44 | |
| 15 | Wimbledon | 38 | 10 | 14 | 14 | 34 | 46 | −12 | 44 | |
| 16 | Sheffield Wednesday | 38 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 52 | 67 | −15 | 44 | |
* ↑ As Arsenal qualified for the Champions League, their Cup Winners' Cup place as FA Cup winners defaulted to Newcastle United, the runners-up.

### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source: 1997-98 FA Premier League table

### Results by matchday

| Match | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | L | L | W | W | D | L | D | D | D | L | W | L | L | L | L | W | L | L | W | L | D | L | W | L | W | D | L | W | L | D | W | D | L | D | D | W | W | D |
| Position | 20 | 19 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 |

## Results

Tottenham Hotspur's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### FA Premier League

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 10 August 1997 | Manchester United | H | 0–2 | 26,359 | |
| 13 August 1997 | West Ham United | A | 1–2 | 25,354 | Ferdinand |
| 23 August 1997 | Derby County | H | 1–0 | 25,886 | Calderwood |
| 27 August 1997 | Aston Villa | H | 3–2 | 26,317 | Ferdinand (2), Fox |
| 30 August 1997 | Arsenal | A | 0–0 | 38,102 | |
| 13 September 1997 | Leicester City | A | 0–3 | 20,683 | |
| 20 September 1997 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 0–0 | 26,573 | |
| 23 September 1997 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 1–1 | 23,433 | Armstrong |
| 27 September 1997 | Wimbledon | H | 0–0 | 26,261 | |
| 4 October 1997 | Newcastle United | A | 0–1 | 36,709 | |
| 19 October 1997 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 3–2 | 25,097 | Dominguez, Armstrong, Ginola |
| 25 October 1997 | Southampton | A | 2–3 | 15,255 | Dominguez, Ginola |
| 1 November 1997 | Leeds United | H | 0–1 | 26,441 | |
| 8 November 1997 | Liverpool | A | 0–4 | 38,006 | |
| 24 November 1997 | Crystal Palace | H | 0–1 | 25,634 | |
| 29 November 1997 | Everton | A | 2–0 | 36,670 | Vega, Ginola |
| 6 December 1997 | Chelsea | H | 1–6 | 28,476 | Vega |
| 13 December 1997 | Coventry City | A | 0–4 | 19,499 | |
| 20 December 1997 | Barnsley | H | 3–0 | 28,232 | Nielsen (2), Ginola |
| 26 December 1997 | Aston Villa | A | 1–4 | 38,644 | Calderwood |
| 28 December 1997 | Arsenal | H | 1–1 | 29,610 | Nielsen |
| 10 January 1998 | Manchester United | A | 0–2 | 55,281 | |
| 17 January 1998 | West Ham United | H | 1–0 | 30,284 | Klinsmann |
| 31 January 1998 | Derby County | A | 1–2 | 30,187 | Fox |
| 7 February 1998 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 3–0 | 30,388 | Berti, Armstrong, Fox |
| 14 February 1998 | Leicester City | H | 1–1 | 28,355 | Calderwood |
| 21 February 1998 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 0–1 | 29,871 | |
| 1 March 1998 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 1–0 | 29,032 | Nielsen |
| 4 March 1998 | Leeds United | A | 0–1 | 31,394 | |
| 14 March 1998 | Liverpool | H | 3–3 | 30,245 | Klinsmann, Ginola, Vega |
| 28 March 1998 | Crystal Palace | A | 3–1 | 26,116 | Berti, Armstrong, Klinsmann |
| 4 April 1998 | Everton | H | 1–1 | 35,624 | Armstrong |
| 11 April 1998 | Chelsea | A | 0–2 | 34,149 | |
| 13 April 1998 | Coventry City | H | 1–1 | 33,463 | Berti |
| 18 April 1998 | Barnsley | A | 1–1 | 18,692 | Calderwood |
| 25 April 1998 | Newcastle United | H | 2–0 | 35,847 | Klinsmann, Ferdinand |
| 2 May 1998 | Wimbledon | A | 6–2 | 25,820 | Ferdinand, Klinsmann (4), Saïb |
| 10 May 1998 | Southampton | H | 1–1 | 35,995 | Klinsmann |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 5 January 1998 | Fulham | H | 3–1 | 27,909 | Clemence, Calderwood, Taylor (own goal) |
| R4 | 24 January 1998 | Barnsley | H | 1–1 | 28,722 | Campbell |
| R4R | 4 February 1998 | Barnsley | A | 1–3 | 18,220 | Ginola |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R2 1st Leg | 17 September 1997 | Carlisle United | H | 3–2 | 19,255 | Fenn, Fox, Mahorn |
| R2 2nd Leg | 30 September 1997 | Carlisle United | A | 2–0 (won 5–2 on agg) | 13,571 | Ginola (pen), Armstrong |
| R3 | 15 October 1997 | Derby County | H | 1–2 | 20,390 | Ginola |

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Ian Walker |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Dean Austin |
| 3 | DF | ENG | Justin Edinburgh |
| 4 | MF | ENG | David Howells |
| 5 | DF | SCO | Colin Calderwood (vice-captain) |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Gary Mabbutt (captain) |
| 7 | MF | MSR | Ruel Fox |
| 8 | MF | DEN | Allan Nielsen |
| 9 | MF | ENG | Darren Anderton |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Les Ferdinand |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Chris Armstrong |
| 12 | DF | IRL | Stephen Carr |
| 13 | GK | NOR | Espen Baardsen |
| 14 | MF | FRA | David Ginola |
| 15 | DF | SUI | Ramon Vega |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Clive Wilson |
| 17 | DF | ENG | John Scales |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | FW | NOR | Steffen Iversen |
| 20 | MF | POR | José Dominguez |
| 21 | FW | ENG | Rory Allen |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Andy Sinton |
| 23 | DF | ENG | Sol Campbell |
| 24 | FW | IRL | Neale Fenn |
| 25 | MF | ENG | Stephen Clemence |
| 26 | FW | NIR | Paul McVeigh |
| 27 | MF | ENG | Danny Hill |
| 29 | DF | ENG | Mark Arber |
| 31 | GK | ENG | Simon Brown |
| 32 | MF | SCO | Garry Brady |
| 33 | FW | GER | Jürgen Klinsmann |
| 34 | MF | ALG | Moussa Saïb |
| 35 | MF | ITA | Nicola Berti |
| 36 | GK | NOR | Frode Grodås |
| 37 | MF | IRL | Peter Gain |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 19 | DF | ENG | Stuart Nethercott (to Millwall) |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Jamie Clapham (to Ipswich Town) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 30 | FW | ENG | Paul Mahorn (to Port Vale) |
| - | MF | IRL | Kevin Maher (to Southend United) |

### Reserve squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | GK | ENG | Alan Marriott |
| - | DF | ENG | Luke Young |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | MF | ENG | Jason Dozzell |
| - | MF | ENG | Mark Gower |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Name | From | Fee |
| 15 July 1997 | MF | David Ginola | Newcastle United | £2,000,000 |
| 28 July 1997 | FW | Les Ferdinand | Newcastle United | £6,000,000 |
| 8 August 1997 | MF | José Dominguez | Sporting CP | £1,600,000 |
| 8 January 1998 | MF | Nicola Berti | Inter Milan | Free transfer |
| 30 January 1998 | GK | Frode Grodås | Chelsea | £250,000 |
| 23 February 1998 | MF | Moussa Saïb | Valencia | £2,300,000 |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Name | To | Fee |
| 27 June 1997 | FW | Teddy Sheringham | Manchester United | £3,500,000 |
| 1 August 1997 | MF | Simon Wormull | Brentford | Free transfer |
| 10 August 1997 | FW | Ronny Rosenthal | Watford | Free transfer |
| 19 September 1997 | DF | Leon Townley | Brentford | £55,000 |
| 23 January 1998 | MF | Kevin Maher | Southend United | Free transfer |
| 13 March 1998 | DF | Jamie Clapham | Ipswich Town | £300,000 |
| 20 March 1998 | FW | Paul Mahorn | Port Vale | Non-contract |
    Transfers in: £12,150,000
    Transfers out: £3,855,000
    Total spending: £8,295,000

## Statistics
### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||||
| 1 | GK | ENG | Ian Walker | 33 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | NOR | Espen Baardsen | 12 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||||
| 3 | DF | ENG | Justin Edinburgh | 18 | 0 | 13+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | SCO | Colin Calderwood | 30 | 5 | 21+5 | 4 | 1+1 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Gary Mabbutt | 12 | 0 | 8+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | IRL | Stephen Carr | 43 | 0 | 37+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | SUI | Ramon Vega | 30 | 3 | 22+3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 16 | DF | ENG | Clive Wilson | 19 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | ENG | John Scales | 12 | 0 | 9+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | ENG | Sol Campbell | 40 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||||
| 4 | MF | ENG | David Howells | 22 | 0 | 14+6 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | MSR | Ruel Fox | 37 | 4 | 32 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 8 | MF | DEN | Allan Nielsen | 27 | 3 | 21+5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9 | MF | ENG | Darren Anderton | 15 | 0 | 7+8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | FRA | David Ginola | 40 | 9 | 34 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 20 | MF | POR | José Dominguez | 22 | 2 | 8+10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Andy Sinton | 21 | 0 | 14+5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | ENG | Stephen Clemence | 21 | 1 | 12+5 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | SCO | Garry Brady | 11 | 0 | 0+9 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | MF | ALG | Moussa Saib | 9 | 1 | 3+6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | MF | ITA | Nicola Berti | 19 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||||
| 10 | FW | ENG | Les Ferdinand | 24 | 5 | 19+2 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | FW | ENG | Chris Armstrong | 22 | 6 | 13+6 | 5 | 0+1 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 18 | FW | NOR | Steffen Iversen | 13 | 0 | 8+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | FW | ENG | Rory Allen | 4 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | IRL | Neale Fenn | 5 | 1 | 0+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 33 | FW | GER | Jürgen Klinsmann | 18 | 9 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players transferred out during the season ||||||||||||
| 30 | MF | ENG | Paul Mahorn | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 1 |
Last updated: 15 May 1999 Source:

### Goal scorers

Last updated: 26 July 2020. Source: premierleague.com
The list is sorted by shirt number when total goals are equal.
| Rnk | Pos | No. | Player | Premier League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Total |
| 1 | MF | 14 | David Ginola | 6 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| 1 | FW | 33 | Jürgen Klinsmann | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 3 | FW | 11 | Chris Armstrong | 5 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 4 | DF | 5 | Colin Calderwood | 4 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 4 | FW | 10 | Les Ferdinand | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | MF | 7 | Ruel Fox | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 7 | MF | 8 | Allan Nielsen | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | DF | 15 | Ramon Vega | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | MF | 35 | Nicola Berti | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | MF | 20 | José Dominguez | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 | DF | 23 | Sol Campbell | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | 24 | Neale Fenn | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | 25 | Stephen Clemence | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | FW | 30 | Paul Mahorn | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 11 | MF | 34 | Moussa Saib | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 44 | 4 | 6 | 54 |

### Clean sheets

Last updated: 26 July 2020. Source: premierleague.com
| Rnk | No. | Player | Premier League | FA Cup | EFL Cup | Total |
| 1 | 1 | Ian Walker | 7 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| 2 | 13 | Espen Baardsen | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| TOTALS | TOTALS | TOTALS | 10 | 1 | 1 | 12 |