With Tottenham Hotspur reaching the 2019 Champions League final and qualifying for the competition in the last four campaigns, fans will remember a time when Champions League football was just a dream. 

Back in the 2009/2010 campaign Spurs faced a ‘winner-takes-all’ tie against the then recently reformed Manchester City team in a race for fourth spot. The London side came out 1-0 winners away at the Etihad securing Champions League football.

Here’s a look at the 11 starters who took Spurs fans to dreamland!

Goalkeeper: Heurelho Gomes

Remember at Spurs for being a bit of a maverick and certainly a big personality, Herelho Gomes was a top performer in the 2009/2010 campaign, having signed from PSV Eindhoven the previous summer.

Gomes made 95 appearances for Tottenham before securing a loan move to Hoffenheim and eventually being sold to Watford in 2014 where he is still on the books.

Right wing-back: Benoit Assou-Ekotto

Another eccentric character who dawned the field at White Hart Lane. Just like Gomes in net, Assou-Ekotto was a solid performer that season, flying up and down the left side and making 30 Premier League in the process.

After signing for Spurs in 2006, the full-back went on a forgettable loan to QPR before being released by the North London club. Assou-Ekotto retired from the game in 2018 having spent the remainder of his career in France.

Centre-back: Younes Kaboul 

Central defender Younes Kaboul enjoyed a colourful Tottenham career across two separate spells. Having joined Portsmouth just a year after signing for Spurs, the Frenchman re-signed in January 2010 and made ten appearances, including that game against City.

Following spells with Sunderland and Watford, Kaboul now finds himself without a club having been released by the Hornets at the start of 2019.

Centre-back: Michael Dawson

A former Tottenham captain and fan-favourite at the club, Michael Dawson certainly wore his heart on his sleeve. Often injury prone, but the 2009/10 was one of his best in a Spurs shirt, where he made 40 appearances in all competitions.

At the age of 35, Dawson is still playing Championship football with Nottingham Forest, following a four-year stint with Hull City.

Centre-back: Ledley King

When referring to Michael Dawson as injury prone, we should have spared a thought for Ledley King. The talismanic defender, spent the majority of his Tottenham career unable to train due to his knees, but was still their best player come match day.

King was forced in to retirement in 2012 having spent his whole career at White Hart Lane, he now carries out an ambassador role at the club.

Left wing-back: Gareth Bale

Now regarded as one of the best players to ever play for Spurs, Gareth Bale was stating to come in to his own in the 2009/2010 season, making 34 appearances in all competitions.

The Welshman moved to Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2013 and amongst other major honours, has a staggering four Champions League medals to his name. However, back under boss Zinedine Zidane, Bale’s Madrid future is looking very uncertain.

Midfielder: Tom Huddlestone

Tom Huddlestone was almost ever-present during the 2009/2010 season, keeping the game ticking over in midfield with his impressive range of passing.

Despite making 43 appearances in all competitions that year, the stylish midfielder left Spurs for Hull City in 2013 and now plays his football at Derby County.

Midfielder: Luka Modric

Due to an injury at the start of the 2009/2010 season, Luka Modric was only able to make 25 Premier League appearances. However, the magic Croatian was vital to Spurs’ impressive form late on in the season.

Just like Bale (although first), Modric made his move to the Spanish capital with Real and has since gone on to win the Ballon d’Or.

Midfielder: Aaron Lennon 

Aaron Lennon brought bags of pace to this Spurs team, constantly willing to get to the byline and get a ball in the box. Despite suffering one or two injuries during the 2009/2010 season, Aaron Lennon always started when fit.

The winger moved to Everton after Spurs before joining Burnley, where he is still contracted today. Lennon was recently applauded for publicly announcing his battles with depression having taken time away from football.

Striker: Peter Crouch

The scorer of that all-important goal against Manchester City, Spurs’ number 15 was a regular start during that campaign, playing in every Premier League game.

Crouch was sold to Stoke City in 2011 and spent eight years at the club before a brief spell with Burnley earlier this year. Crouchie announced his retirement this summer and his now carrying out plenty of successful media work.

Striker: Jermain Defoe

Jermain Defoe was enjoying his second spell at Spurs in the 2009/2010 season, having left for Protsmouth for two seasons and re-signed for Spurs in 2008.

Defoe netted a total of 143 times for Spurs and eventually made moves to Toronto FC, Sunderland, Bournemouth and is now playing his football on loan at Rangers.