Rafael van der Vaart has sent a Twitter message thanking Tottenham fans in response to an online video showing them chanting his name.
The Sportsman posted a clip on their social media account showing Spurs supporters singing the Dutchman’s name a week after he announced his retirement from playing.
Van der Vaart, 35, who spent two years at Tottenham from 2010 to 2012, was bowled over by the video, telling followers of the club “love this, thank you guys”.
Love this, thank you guys ? https://t.co/7GgMbwOsaf
— Rafael van der Vaart (@rafvdvaart) November 11, 2018
OPINION
Van der Vaart is loved by Spurs fans for the two years he spent at the club during Harry Redknapp’s reign, when he was one of the star players in a cavalier side that also included Gareth Bale and Luka Modric. The Dutch artist was not the quickest, strongest or fittest player, but he was a mighty fine one with a left foot that could open a tin of beans and a touch and vision in keeping with the many outstanding attackers to hail from his homeland. Tottenham saw some of the best of Van der Vaart, who signed for a bargain £10.5million after a mixed four years at Real Madrid. The bare statistics – 28 goals and 18 assists from 77 appearances – were impressive from the attacking midfielder, but they do not tell the whole story of his classy contribution, or the joy he brought from some of his sublime performances. At a time when Spurs were beginning to punch above their weight and emerge from Arsenal’s shadow, Van der Vaart was a talisman of swagger and class.