Euro Star: Jermain Defoe

Congratulations to Jermain Defoe who is now Tottenham Hotspur’s top scorer in European competition. His penalty (his first in Europe) at home to Sheriff took him to 23 goals, one ahead of Martin Chivers.
 
Important Note- There appears to be some confusion over Jermain’s European record.
I’ve seen several variations, even some normally reliable sources providing conflicting  information (1). The goal information provided here has been kindly verified by Andy Porter, the Clubs Official Historian. I thank him for his time and kind assistance. That is in addition to UEFA’s view (2).

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To date Jermain has scored in 16 different games, against 14 different clubs from 13 different countries. Whilst Jermain has spread his goals out over six different seasons starting in 2006/07 the current one has been the most prolific with seven goals so far. Overtaking last season when he scored four. He has featured in a total of 35 games, including ten from the bench.

His favorite country is Slovenia who have been on the receiving end of 3 goals. Goals against Seville and Gafete mean Spain is the only country where he has scored against two different teams. Sheriff and Ireland’s Shamrock Rovers are the only teams he has scored against in two different games.

Defoe has hit one hat trick, at home to Maribor in 2013 and has hit a brace on five other occasions. Three of his goals have come in the Champions League, six in the UEFA Cup and the rest in the Europa League. Six have been scored on the road whilst seventeen have been at the Lane.

Martin Chivers, who held the record for 37 years, was the first to congratulate Jermain, “I’m pleased for him to be quite honest,” said Chiv. “If I’m going to let any record go that I’ve got here, I don’t mind letting it go to Jermain Defoe, who is a great goalscorer”. “I’ve always sung his praises”.

Our other top scorers in Europe are with 22 goals Martin Chivers who scored his goals in 32 starts over three seasons. Then comes Mark Falco, Alan Gilzean and Martin Peters on 13 each, Dimitar Berbatov 12 and Bobby Smith 10.

After the game a delighted Jermain described Chivers as a legend and he had seen him at half-time. Martin had told him “to keep going and you’ll get the record”.

Apart from Euro success Jermain is one goal away from equaling Robbie Keane’s 91 Premier League goals for the club. As you will know he is already fifth on the list of all-time marksmen for the club. He is unlikely to reach fourth this season. Another record he will have to wait for is top scorer in the League Cup where he again is currently in second place.

Jermain’s full record.

UEFA Cup.

2006/07    -  Dinamo Bucharest (h) 2
                 -  Sevilla  (h)  
                  
2007/08    -   Anorthosis Famagusta (h) 2 
                 -   Getafe (h)

Champions League.

2010/11    - Young Boys (h)  
                 - FC Twente (a)  2

Europa League.

2011/12    - Hearts (a)
                 - Shamrock Rovers  (h & a) 

2012/13    - Maribor (h) 3  
                 - Panathinaikos (h)

2013/14    - Dianmo Tbilisi (h) 2
                 - Tromso (h) 2
                 - Anzhi (a)
                 - Sheriff (a & h)

By country
3 -Slovenia 
2- Spain, Rumania, Cyprus, Belgium, Ireland, Ukraine, Norway, and Moldova
1- Swiss, Scotland, Russia and Greece,


Notes -
1 - This wasn’t helped by the TV commentator who couldn’t even get the number of goals right!
2 - Road to Turin 2,  5th Nov.2013.


About the author:
Keith Harrison, Nilgiris, TN
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