Tottenham Hotspur have not usually been a side to switch between goalkeepers often. They have shown this recently through persisting with the Brazilian Heurelho Gomes and if you think back through the Premier League years then you will remember the likes of Paul Robinson and Ian Walker, both of whom have made well over 100 appearances for the north London club. By delving further into Spurs’ Premier League past, those that are old enough will remember the Norwegian Erik Thorstvedt, a goalkeeping legend at White Hart Lane. So what is the ex-Spurs man doing now?

Thorstvedt began his career in his homeland of Norway and gained a reputation as an impressive young goalkeeper with his performances for Viking FK. After brief spells in Germany and Sweden the stopper journeyed to England in 1989 to join Terry Venables Tottenham side and that is where the keeper stayed.

The Norwegian would feature at White Hart Lane for 7 years and became a favourite of the Spurs faithful despite enduring a torrid start to his Tottenham career. Thorstvedt made 218 league appearances for the Lilywhites and was part of the legendary 1991 side who lifted the F.A Cup with the keeper became the first ever Norwegian to do so in the process. He was eventually forced into a premature retirement due to reoccurring back injuries but has always been remembered for his time at the Lane.

Like many footballers, Thorstvedt has continued to feature heavily on the scene despite his early retirement. He has worked as a commentator and pundit for a Norwegian television station as well as trying his hand at management...with a team created for a reality TV show! The keeper now has a popular Monday night show called ‘Matchball Mandag’ in which he looks at the events in the Norwegian Premier League with a humorous approach.

Thorstvedt also featured in the English press recently after hitting out at the out-of-form Gomes. The former Spurs keeper said of the Brazilian:

“Things have really dragged on for him. I'm amazed it's been allowed to go on for this long and they haven't taken him out of the firing line and brought someone else in. Every goalkeeper makes mistakes, I know that better than anyone but he can't afford to be doing it every other week.”

The Norwegian acts as another example of a former player who has remained in the game in unusual circumstances and will always be remembered by Spurs fan’s for his devoted stint with the club.

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