Opinion: Pochettino favourite deserves credit after leaving Tottenham

With Mauricio Pochettino’s departure, it is only natural that Tottenham’s squad will start to change and some of the Argentine’s old favourites will move on.

While Christian Eriksen’s move to Inter Milan in January received plenty of attention, Victor Wanyama’s departure in March did not create quite as many column inches.

The Kenya international left Tottenham to join MLS side Montreal Impact, with the midfielder’s four-year stint at the club coming to an end.

Although Wanyama’s time at Spurs was broken up by injuries and inconsistency, the all-action battler deserves credit and praise for the role he played in the club’s evolution in recent years.

The 28-year-old was a Pochettino favourite, with the former Tottenham boss managing the African star previously at Southampton.

Wanyama was always a player that Spurs could rely on and in his time in North London he had a number of notable moments.

In the 2016-17 campaign, the Kenyan was one of the first names on the Tottenham teamsheet and he formed a formidable central midfield partnership with Mousa Dembele.

Wanyama scored on his home debut to announce himself to the supporters and ensure a late 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.

Injuries took their toll, while the move of Eric Dier into a midfield role and the emergence of Moussa Sissoko also limited the African’s opportunities.

However, Wanyama will go down as scoring in the final game at the old White Hart Lane, netting in a 2-1 victory over Manchester United back in May 2017. The win meant that Spurs went through the whole 2016-17 Premier League campaign without losing at home.

And who could forget the thunderbolt that the Kenyan rifled into the roof of Liverpool’s goal in a pulsating 2-2 draw at Anfield in February 2018? A thing of raw beauty.

While not playing a prominent role in Tottenham’s run to the Champions League final last season, Wanyama was available and played his part when called upon – most notably as an emergency centre-half as Spurs progressed in the quarter-finals in a dramatic night against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Not the most cultured player, the Kenyan looked devoid of confidence in the chances he did receive late in his Tottenham tenure.

However, when on song and in the mood, Wanyama was a devastating implement in an explosive Spurs side.

Thanks for the memories Victor.