Every iconic Tottenham player to wear the 5 before Marcos Senesi, including one villain

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Marcos Senesi’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur has brought renewed attention to one of the club’s most recognisable shirt numbers, with the Argentine defender becoming the latest player entrusted with the famous No. 5 jersey.

Tottenham Hotspur‘s second summer signing has now arrived, with Spurs confirming Marcos Senesi as their latest centre-back addition.

The Argentine joins on a four-year deal after agreeing a pre-contract agreement with Tottenham following the expiry of his contract with Bournemouth.

Senesi has since spoken to supporters, explaining that one of the reasons behind his move to Spurs is his desire to win silverware.

While trophies have not been plentiful in recent years, Tottenham did lift the UEFA Europa League two seasons ago.

Senesi has also been confirmed as the club’s new No. 5 ahead of the upcoming season. The Argentine’s arrival will also allow Tottenham to be flexible in their line-up, as Roberto De Zerbi recently alluded to.

However, the No. 5 shirt is not just any number, with some of the club’s greatest players having worn it over the years.

Spurs Web has now taken a trip down memory lane to revisit some of the most iconic players to have donned Tottenham’s number five shirt over the years.

Tottenham’s history of the Number 5 shirt

Jan Vertonghen (2012-2020)

For many modern Spurs supporters, Jan Vertonghen is the definitive No. 5. Signed from Ajax in 2012, the Belgian made over 300 appearances for Tottenham and established himself as one of the standout defenders of the Mauricio Pochettino era.

Vertonghen was central to Spurs becoming genuine Premier League title challengers and also played a huge role during the club’s run to the 2019 UEFA Champions League final.

Calm on the ball, aggressive when needed and incredibly reliable, he remains one of the most admired defenders of the Premier League era at Tottenham.

The Belgian was voted Tottenham Player of the Year in 2018, and many supporters still regard him as one of the best centre-backs the club has had in the modern era.

Gary Mabbutt (1985-86, 1992-93)

Few players represent Tottenham Hotspur quite like Gary Mabbutt. The former captain spent 16 years at the club and led Spurs through one of the most memorable periods in their history.

Mabbutt captained Tottenham to FA Cup glory in 1991 after already helping the club win the UEFA Cup in 1984. He also became one of the club’s all-time appearance leaders and earned enormous respect throughout English football.

What made his career even more remarkable was the fact that he battled diabetes throughout it all, yet still established himself as one of the finest defenders of his generation and a genuine Spurs legend.

Sol Campbell (1999-2001)

We all have a history, and we can’t blame the Tottenham number 5 shirt for having a problematic ex. Hopefully, the curse has worn off 25 years later as Senesi prepares to don the jersey.

Edgar Davids (2005-2007)

Edgar Davids may only have spent two seasons at Tottenham, but his impact was immediate.

The Dutchman arrived in North London carrying a huge pedigree after spells with Ajax, AC Milan, Juventus and Barcelona, bringing leadership and experience to Martin Jol’s exciting Spurs side.

Even towards the latter stages of his career, Davids still brought aggression, quality and personality to the midfield, with many supporters still remembering his spell fondly.

Tottenham legend Ledley King revealed last year how Davids changed the mentality around the club and left teammates in awe.

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (2020-2024)

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is the last player to have donned the number five shirt. While not a legend, he was one of the dependable players of the post-Pochettino era at Tottenham.

The Denmark international was rarely absent and remained a constant figure under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Maurice Norman

Maurice Norman was one of the cornerstones of Bill Nicholson’s iconic Double-winning side of 1960-61.

Widely regarded as one of the best centre-halves in England during his era, Norman helped Tottenham become the first club in the 20th century to complete the league and FA Cup double.

Mike England

Mike England remains one of the finest centre-backs in Tottenham history and was a key figure throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The Welshman helped Spurs win the UEFA Cup in 1972 and firmly established himself as one of the club’s greatest defenders.

Steve Perryman

Steve Perryman’s place in Tottenham history is untouchable. The club’s all-time appearance holder with 866 matches for Spurs briefly wore the No. 5 shirt during the early 1980s, with few players ever representing Tottenham with greater distinction.

Ricardo Villa

Ricardo Villa’s place in Spurs folklore was already guaranteed long before his association with the No. 5 shirt. The Argentine World Cup winner scored one of the most iconic goals in FA Cup final history and remains one of the most loved overseas players to ever represent Tottenham.

Spurs players to wear the No. 5 shirt

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