Why Spurs must preserve Martin Jol’s greatest legacy

Football FanCast guest columnist Luke Radcliffe looks back at what he believes to be Martin Jol's greatest legacy
at Spurs.

I don't think there is a Spurs fan
around who doesn't hold some appreciation, of the work Martin Jol did at
Tottenham Hotspur. He galvanised N17, brought belief back to the fans and
dragged a football club that was going nowhere fast; back to the forefront of
the English game. There are many achievements that you can pinpoint on the big
Dutchman; no more so than his consecutive top five finishes but for me his finest
legacy for the football club is the way he unlocked the full potential of
Robbie Keane – turning a natural gifted footballer into one of the country's
top marksmen.

Keane to be honest was a player that
has always been popular among the Spurs faithful, but there was always a
question mark about his value as a regular starter. I will happily admit that I
was one of his doubters that questioned his consistency and felt we would be
better off with Jermain Defoe. The Irishman for me got far too involved in
build up play, drifted out of position too often and I believe he seemed a
greater threat coming off the bench. Jol certainly didn't and the player has
shown how right he was to persevere.

Robbie Keane to be honest has always
been something of an enigma in the game and many clubs and managers have tried
and failed to do what Jol accomplished. The Dutchman believed in him, gave him
the arm around the shoulder, the opportunity and finally a player who was
shunted around from pillar to post in his early career had found a football
club that would appreciate his gifts and given a platform to perform them on a
regular basis.

I have to be honest I have been amazed
in the last three seasons how Keane has developed and the way he has turned
into a prolific scorer; a trait that I never thought existed within him. He
continues to make goals, link the play from midfield and his most endearing
quality is his selfless running and 100% commitment, which is so sadly lacking
by the majority of his teammates.

I'm certain that I wasn't the only
Spurs fan that was perturbed by the links with Keane and Liverpool over the
weekend and in newspapers this morning. It certainly wouldn't be the first time
the Merseysiders have used such a tactic to unsettle a player and you only hope
that Keane isn't tempted by a move to his boyhood heroes. It unnerved me when I
read it because I have always taken it for granted that the Irishman will be at
the club for life and the very thought of him leaving is almost unthinkable. It
got me to appreciate the player he is and the value to the club. He is one of
the few untouchables at the football club and I hope that Juande Ramos feels
the same.

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