Spurs Top Goal Scorers: The Lilywhites Most Lethal Finishers

Last updated: 27/02/2023 at 10:29 am

Tottenham Hotspur have had some exceptional goalscorers over the years. Here, we’ve listed the Lilywhites 5 all time top scorers. Keep reading to find out who they are..

Tottenham Hotspur have had some absolutely lethal finishers among their ranks throughout their illustrious history, with legends of the game such as Gary Lineker and Gareth Bale spearheading the Lilywhites attack.

The North London side have almost always had an abundance of attacking talent in their team, with 19 players notching over 100 goals for the club since their formation in 1882. So while the trophies have dried up for the Lilywhites, the goals certainly haven't.

We've taken a look at Tottenham’s top five goal scorers of all time, as well as honourable mentions for some master finishers.

Keep reading to find out who they are, and how you can get VIP hospitality tickets to all of Tottenham’s home fixtures this season.

5. Cliff Jones

1958 - 1968 | Goals: 154 | Appearances: 378 | Honours: 5

Known as a dangerous operator on both flanks and widely considered one of the best wingers of his generation, Cliff Jones was a consistent and prolific goal scorer for Spurs.

The Welshmen thrived under legendary manager Bill Nicholson during his tenure with the club, and was a key player in Tottenham's historic double winning side of 1960/61.

His Lightning pace and precise touch made him a nightmare for defenders. At the hight of his form, Jones netted 25 league goals in the 1959/60 season.

His determination to drive towards goal on the ball and fantastic ability to both score and assist drew worldwide attention, with Serie A giants Juventus offering a then world record fee of £125,000 for his services.

Jones helped Tottenham to win multiple honours, including three FA Cup’s, one Cup Winners Cup and one league title.

He departed to fellow London side Fulham after spending a decade at the Spurs and scoring an impressive 154 goals in 378 appearances.

4. Martin Chivers

1968 - 1976 | Goals: 174 | Appearances: 367 | Honours: 3

As the successor of legendary striker Jimmy Greaves, Martin Chivers had big boots to fill in the Spurs side, and the young striker proved to be one of the most prolific finishers in Tottenham's history.

Chivers netted 174 times for the Lilywhites in his eight years at the club, and helped the side to win two League Cups and one UEFA Cup in the 70’s. In the 1971/72 season he hit his best form scoring 44 times in 64 first team appearances, including two goals against Wolverhampton Wanderers to win the UEFA Cup.

The Southampton born talisman was a big game player for Spurs, and scored a number of crucial goals in domestic and European cup wins for the North London club.

In his last years at Tottenham, he was plagued by injuries and struggled to find the net in a relatively poor Spurs side, before departing to Swiss team Servette in 1976.

Chivers left Tottenham as a club legend, and remained as the clubs leading European goal scorer for 39 years, until 2013.

3. Bobby Smith

1955 - 1964 | Goals: 208 | Appearances: 317 | Honours: 6

Bobby Smith was described by many as the classic “old fashioned” forward. The frontman scored 208 times for the Lilywhites in his nine-year tenure with the club.

Smith formed one of the most feared strike partnerships in club football history alongside Jimmy Greaves, and was most notably the club's top scorer in their famous double winning season of 1960/61, scoring 33 times in 43 games.

As the spearhead of Tottenham’s attack in their “glory glory” years, Smith helped the club to win 6 major honours, including FA Cups, League Titles and a UEFA Cup.

He was known for his footwork, finishing and ability to psychologically beat his opponents. The Englishman transferred to Brighton in 1964 after nine years and 317 appearances with the club.

2. Jimmy Greaves

1961 - 1970 | Goals: 266 | Appearances: 379 | Honours: 5

As Tottenham’s second highest scorer (266), English topflight football's highest ever scorer (357) and England's fifth highest international scorer (44), Jimmy Greaves is arguably the greatest English player of all time.

Greaves has scored more international hat tricks (six) than any other player in history, and won the Division One Golden Boot on six occasions. The striker finished third in the 1963 Ballon D’or and was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

Greaves joined Spurs for a fee of £99,999 in 1961 just after the club's historic double winning season, and played a crucial part of Bill Nicholson's super Spurs side of the 60’s.

In 1962 he scored the first goal in the final to help Tottenham win back-to-back FA Cups in his first season with the club. The talisman later scored a brace in Tottenham’s 5-1 thrashing of Atletico Madrid to become the first British team ever to win a European Cup.

Greaves helped Tottenham to win six major honours in his time with the club as well as winning the 1966 World Cup with England. He departed Tottenham in 1971 as the club's all-time top scorer and with the record for most hat tricks (15).

1. Harry Kane

2010 - Present | Goals: 268 | Appearances: 420 | Honours: 0

Harry Kane hasn't even finished his career yet and he's already reached number one on the List of Tottenham’s all-time top scorers and third on the list of Premier League top scorers.

Regarded as one of the best strikers in the world and arguably the best in Spurs history, the England captain is a prolific goal scorer known for his deadly finishing, pinpoint accuracy and fantastic link play.

Kane has commanded the Lilywhites attack since 2014 and although he has not yet won a trophy with the club, he has broken multiple league records as well as winning three Premier League Golden Boot awards and numerous other individual accolades.

In 2017 Kane was the world's top scorer in a calendar year, netting 56 times and beating players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The striker is on track to end his career as the Premier League and English national team's all-time top scorer.

Harry Kane surpassed the great Jimmy Greaves as Tottenham’s top goal scorer with an emphatic finish against title rivals Manchester City on the 5th of Feb 2023. With his current contract running until 2024, Kane will no doubt end his Spurs career way out on his own as Tottenham's all time greatest goal scorer.

Honorable mentions

Are couple of honourable mentions for players that aren't in the top five scorers are:

Jermain Defoe (2004 - 2008 & 2009 - 2014)

The 5ft 7 goal poacher is Tottenham’s eighth highest goal scorer of all time, netting 143 times in 363 appearances. Known for his finishing ability and knack for getting in great goal scoring positions, Defoe was a ruthless goal scorer and helped Spurs to their 2008 League Cup win.

Son Heung Min (2015 - Present)

Known for his explosive speed and two footed finishing ability, Son has led the Tottenham attack alongside Harry Kane for the last five years, scoring 140 goals in that time. The Korean is currently the clubs Ninth highest goal scorer, but will no doubt end higher on the list.

Since serial winner Antonio Conte took over, Tottenham have brought themselves back into the fight for major silverware, progressing into the knockouts of the Champions League and sitting third in the league with the third highest goal difference.

The club had experienced a poor spell under Nuno Espírito Santo, but the Italian has got the Lilywhites fired up and ready to fight for the premier league title this season.

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