The Global Impact of the North London Derby: A Spurs Defender's Perspective
In the latest development, a newly signed player for Tottenham Hotspur has asserted that there are more supporters of Spurs compared to Arsenal in North London.
The North London derby has gone global, yet the streets of London are still swarming with Tottenham Hotspur shirts, asserts new Spurs signing, Kevin Danso.
Spurs were quick to snap up Danso on a loan deal in January, with an option to buy the Austrian defender for €25 million at the end of the 2024-25 season. Following a standout performance in the Europa League final against Manchester United, Danso was left speechless by the fervor of the supporters during the victory parade in the heart of the capital.
A Moment to Remember
In conversations with Austrian media, Danso admitted that the victory parade was the moment he truly understood the magnitude of his achievement. "That's when I realized I'm a European trophy winner," Danso shared, as quoted by Sport Witness.
Though a victory parade might not offer an accurate representation of the social dynamics of a football city, Danso has spent enough time in London to know how to captivate the hearts of Spurs fans. "If you're not from London, you might think North London is Arsenal. But in my opinion, there are many more Tottenham fans than Arsenal," Danso asserted. "Winning something with a club like Tottenham makes the feeling even sweeter."
A Growing Legacy in London
The 26-year-old defender, born in Styria, Austria, played his youth football for Reading and Milton Keynes Dons, before moving to Germany to kick off his professional career with Augsburg. A loan spell with Southampton followed before he was sold to Lens in 2021. Seizing the opportunity to strengthen their injury-plagued center defense, Ange Postecoglou brought Danso to Tottenham on loan in the January transfer window.
Over the course of ten Premier League games, Danso proved to be an invaluable addition to Spurs, as they gradually prioritized their Europa League campaign over their domestic competition. Finishing in a lackluster 17th place, the team nonetheless clinched a spot in next season's Champions League as Europa League winners. Danso made his mark in the final, coming on as a substitute to replace goalscorer Brennan Johnson with twelve minutes remaining. The Europa League victory was Danso's first trophy in his career, and he's planning an eccentric initiation celebration.
"She's a Spurs fan," Danso revealed, discussing his upcoming Spurs initiation event. The defender, who confesses to being musically-challenged despite owning a karaoke machine, admitted to intending to sing an Adele song for his fellow Spurs players.
The North London derby will take a historic step next season as the first installment to be played overseas, when Spurs and Arsenal meet in a pre-season friendly at the end of July in Hong Kong. As the two teams prepare to renew their rivalry, Danso will undoubtedly be amongst the players eager to contribute to the electric atmosphere for which the North London derby is renowned.
In conversations with Austrian media, Danso shared that his first trophy in his career was winning the Europa League with Tottenham Hotspur, a London-based club that participates in the Premier League, one of the European-leagues. Danso, who has proven to be an invaluable addition to Spurs' defense, was pleasantly surprised by the enthusiasm of the supporters during the victory parade in the heart of London, a city known for its passionate football fans, particularly for the North London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.
