His decade at the club, split over two five-year stints, yielded a host of records and a multitude of wonderful memories for Spurs fans.
Few players provoke such genuinely warm responses from the supporters than Defoe.
Only four players have scored more goals for Tottenham. Each of those—Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Smith, Cliff Jones and Martin Chivers—played during the glory days in the 1960s.
The fact that he could accomplish so much at the club despite only rarely being a first-choice striker speaks to his evident qualities.
No player has scored more often in European competition and he twice finished as the club's top scorer (in 2004-05 and 2009-10).