King

Rarely in the modern English game has a player been as loved by his supporters, admired by his teammates and respected by his peers as Ledley King. And even more rarely has such a shining talent seen their career cut so tragically short.

Named 'the best defender in Europe' by Thierry Henry, and described by Martin Jol as 'the best central defender I've ever seen', King was undoubtedly one of the greatest talents of his generation. Yet injury forced his retirement, aged only 31.

But even at the height of his chronic knee trouble - when he could only train once a week, and was advised not to even play football with his son - King still managed to captain Tottenham Hotspur and be called up to the England squad.

King documents the successes and struggles - both personal and professional - behind this unique and unprecedented footballing career: from King's childhood in East London, to his future out of the white shirt of his beloved Tottenham Hotspur.

Born in Bow in 1980, Ledley King joined Tottenham Hotspur as a trainee at the age of 16. After making his full debut in May 1999, he went on to make 323 appearances for Spurs, and won 21 caps for England in the process, before a chronic knee injury forced his retirement from professional football in July 2012. Ledley King continues to represent Tottenham Hotspur on an ambassadorial level.

Mat Snow is the former editor of FourFourTwo and Mojo magazines, for both of which he won Magazine Editor of the Year.

Rarely in the modern English game has a player been as loved by his supporters, admired by his teammates and respected by his peers as Ledley King. And even more so rarely has such a shining talent seen their career cut so tragically short. Named 'the best defender in Europe' by Thierry Henry, King was undoubtedly one of the greatest talents of his generation, as well as being one of the English Premiership's true one-club players. Yet injury forced his retirement, aged only 31. King documents the successes and struggles - both personal and professional - behind this unique footballing career: from King's childhood in East London, to his future out of the white shirt of his beloved Tottenham Hotspur.

Rarely in the modern English game has a player been as loved by his supporters, admired by his teammates and respected by his peers as Ledley King. And even more rarely has such a shining talent seen their career cut so tragically short. Named 'the best defender in Europe' by Thierry Henry, and described by Martin Jol as 'the best central defender I've ever seen', King was undoubtedly one of the greatest talents of his generation. Yet injury forced his retirement, aged only 31. But even at the height of his chronic knee trouble - when he could only train once a week, and was advised not to even play football with his son - King still managed to captain Tottenham Hotspur and be called up to the England squad. King documents the successes and struggles - both personal and professional - behind this unique and unprecedented footballing career: from King's childhood in East London, to his future out of the white shirt of his beloved Tottenham Hotspur.

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