Tottenham Hotspur’s defeat to Manchester City at the end of last season will live long in the memory for a variety of reasons. For Ange Postecoglou, this was her “worst experience” as a manager. For Spurs fans, this triggered an almost existential crisis: many wanted their team to lose to prevent Arsenal from winning the title.
Few matches in Premier League history have been charged with such unusual emotional weight, and this is not an event Postecoglou and his players will regard fondly. One imagines that the Spurs head coach would happily erase all memories of this incident from his mind if he could.
But there was one aspect of the night that will be remembered much more favorably for Spurs: Mikey Moore’s debut in stoppage time. At the age of 16 years, 9 months and 3 days, the winger became the youngest player to play for the club in the Premier League.
Was this a significant moment for the club, Moore’s first appearance on the senior stage? As such, it is little more than a footnote. But that could change if Moore can unlock his immense potential. In time, if Moore can justify the excitement around him, City’s defeat may even be more remembered for him than anything else.
“I felt like I was playing Fifa,” he said later. “It was so crazy. It’s probably the best feeling I’ve ever had. “I was asking the referee how long I could stay because I wanted him to continue as soon as I got on the field.”
On Thursday night, in a downpour in Hungary, Moore took another important step in his young career. The player, now 17 years old, made his debut for Spurs in the 2-1 victory against Ferencvaros. The young winger, whose socks rolled down and the ball apparently stuck to his feet, succeeded in difficult conditions. Just a few minutes later, Ferencvaros’ defenders had already opted to kick him instead of the ball.
Managers of exciting young talent often try to keep the hype surrounding them under wraps. It was striking, then, to hear Postecoglou speak so glowingly about Moore’s performance after the game.
“I thought he was outstanding,” Postecoglou said. “It’s amazing for a 17-year-old to play 90 minutes away in Europe. He handled it perfectly. I knew he would do it.”
Asked what he likes so much about Moore, the Spurs head coach added: “It’s his ability to handle pressure, keep the ball in really tight areas and make really good, clean decisions for a young guy.
“He still has a lot of development, but the good thing is that he wants to learn, he wants to improve. I couldn’t be happier for him, but I’m also very happy that he is part of our football club. He’s got something special.”
Moore’s talent has been known throughout the football industry for some time. At an under-17 game in March 2023, a scout told Telegraph Sport that every major club in the country was eyeing the dribbling dynamo in Tottenham’s youth ranks. Moore was 15 at the time, playing a year above his age group, and it was glaringly clear during that game that he was on a different level than the others on the field.
A few weeks later Moore played in the under-17 Premier League Cup final against Nottingham Forest. He scored twice, including a superb individual effort, in the 5-1 win. That was the moment when the whole world started to realize that Spurs had some truly exciting offensive talent.
Born in south London, Moore was just seven years old when he first joined Spurs’ academy. He quickly rose through the ranks and became a regular for England at youth level. He was part of the first team’s pre-season tour this summer following his debut against City. He shined alongside top players.
Clearly, he has won the love of international stars. “He’s a great kid,” James Maddison said. “He is a really good-natured, kind young man and that is something his family appreciates. Sometimes I have to pinch myself and remember how young he is. He was 17 years old and joined the group when he was 16. “He is already a man.”
Moore was particularly keen to learn from captain Son Heung-min, who plays the same position. “Mikey comes to me and asks questions,” Son said. “He’s a great kid and I’m absolutely sure he can become a great player. There’s no doubt about it because he has incredible quality.
“As we always say for young players, let’s not put too much pressure on his shoulders. Let’s enjoy how he develops, how he improves every day, every season. As a fan, as fans we should enjoy watching him and I think he will be one of the best players.
Although he is currently a first-team player – he has made four senior appearances this season – it is a sign of Moore’s age that he has made changes to the academy areas at the club’s training ground.
Moore, who is so important to Spurs, will be theirs for the foreseeable future. Following serious interest from other teams in England and Europe, he committed to the club in the summer and then signed a professional contract as soon as he turned 17 in August.
There’s an endearingly old-school quality to Moore’s game, with his low socks and willingness to dribble past full-backs. Against Ferencvaros on Thursday, he tried to damage the opposition defense every time he received the ball. Not all moves have been successful, but Moore has caused more problems for Ferencvaros than any other Spurs player.
Of course, there is no guarantee that Moore will follow such a steep path. Who knows what potential disruptions and pitfalls might be waiting for you? But it is becoming increasingly clear that this is a very talented young man. He works in a Spurs team full of other youngsters, under a manager who is confident in him, and looks to be in the right place to develop that talent.