Victor Wanyama reflects on the one game while playing for Tottenham that angered him and made him realise his time at the club was coming to an end.
Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama may have cemented his status as a cult hero during his time at Tottenham Hotspur, but his departure from the club left him with lingering disappointment.
The midfield powerhouse, who joined Spurs from Southampton in June 2016, enjoyed a stellar debut season but ultimately felt sidelined and unappreciated towards the end of his tenure.
Under the management of Mauricio Pochettino, Wanyama quickly made an impact, scoring his first goal in a 1-0 league victory over Crystal Palace.
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His formidable midfield partnerships with Mousa Dembele and Eric Dier helped Spurs achieve their best-ever Premier League finish in the 2016/17 season, securing second place with 86 points. Wanyama was instrumental, starting 35 of the club’s 38 league matches that season.
Beyond his domestic contributions, he was also a key figure in Spurs’ historic Champions League campaign in 2018/19, making six appearances en route to the final. However, despite his on-field influence, his journey at Tottenham ended on a sour note.
Reflecting on his departure, Wanyama admitted that he grew increasingly frustrated at the lack of playing opportunities, particularly after returning from a long-term knee injury.
“I was frustrated, and when I came back from injury, I didn’t get enough chances to play and enjoy my football,” he told The Athletic in 2020.
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The Kenyan midfielder felt the club did not show enough faith in his recovery.
“When I came back, the club should have trusted me and given me more chances to play again. I was fit and training well. I never argued with Pochettino, but I wanted to speak to him.
“ I went to his office, but he was busy. I saw his assistant Jesus (Perez). He told me to be patient, that my chance would come—blah, blah, blah. I didn’t go to see them again. That’s why I left the club. I’m a football player, and I wanted to play football. I love Spurs, but I love playing football more.”
By the 2018/19 season, Wanyama had become a peripheral figure, starting just four league games and playing only 24 minutes of league football in the following campaign. Despite this, he played a vital role in Tottenham’s journey to their first-ever Champions League final, featuring in both semi-final legs against Ajax.
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The defining moment that signaled the end of his Spurs career came in Madrid. Wanyama was left out of the starting lineup for the Champions League final against Liverpool, which they lost 1-0, a decision that deeply frustrated him.
“I was really, really pissed off not to start that game,” he admitted. “And even more pissed off because we didn’t win. I tried to encourage those who played.”
He described the night as sleepless, tormented by thoughts of what could have been. His brother, McDonald Mariga, had been in a similar situation when Inter Milan won the 2010 Champions League, left on the bench in the final. “He could relate and understand what I was going through.”
In March 2020, Wanyama moved to MLS side CF Montréal, ending his four-year spell at Spurs without securing silverware.
While his exit was not on his terms, Wanyama remains a respected figure among Spurs fans, forever associated with their most successful Premier League campaign and their historic Champions League run.
