Victor Wanyama calls time on wonderful career
Fri 03 April 2026, 14:10|
Tottenham Hotspur
Victor Wanyama has announced his retirement from professional football.
The popular midfielder made 97 appearances for us in all competitions following his move from Southampton in June, 2016, and scored seven times, including the opening goal in our final game at White Hart Lane.
Victor was part of a strong midfield unit alongside the likes of Mousa Dembele, Moussa Sissoko and Eric Dier during his time at the club.
Indeed, it was his partnership in the engine room with Dembele that powered us to our best-ever finish of second in the Premier League in 2016/17. The pair started together in some of the dominant wins fans will always remember in that last season at the Lane - 5-0 against Swansea, 4-0 against West Brom, Stoke, Watford and Bournemouth.
Vic will always be remembered for two moments in particular in a Spurs shirt - as already mentioned, a towering header to open the scoring against Manchester United in the Lane's Finale in May, 2017 and an absolute rocket into the top corner against Liverpool at the Kop end at Anfield in February, 2018.
Born in Nairobi, Victor left Kenya for Europe in 2007 when he joined Helsingborg in Sweden. Less than a year later, he joined Belgian side Beerschot AC where he made 56 appearances before a move to Glasgow Celtic in July, 2011.
He won the league title in his first season in Scotland before enhancing his reputation further in 2012/13 with 49 appearances as Celtic clinched the SPL and Scottish Cup double. Victor scored nine goals in that campaign including the opener against Barcelona in a famous 2-1 win in the Champions League at Parkhead, as they went on to advance to the knockout stages. His performances earned him the SPL's Young Player of the Year award.
Vic joined us in 2016 and after four years here, moved on for a new challenge in the MLS with Montreal. He won the Canadian Championship in 2021 and made 133 appearances in four years before returning to Scotland and a brief stint at Dunfermline last season.
Capped 64 times by Kenya, Vic made his senior debut aged just 15 and went on to become the captain of his national team, and a sporting icon back home.
