Spurs fan Eliud Kipchoge pays glowing tribute to Victor Wanyama after retirement

Kenyan marathon icon Eliud Kipchoge has paid a heartfelt tribute to former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama following the midfielder’s retirement from professional football, bringing the curtain down on a distinguished 19-year career.

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Wanyama, who announced his retirement on Friday, 3 April, exits the game as one of Kenya’s most celebrated football exports, having enjoyed a stellar run in European football that saw him feature prominently in top leagues and competitions.

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The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder spent four seasons in North London between 2016 and 2020, where he established himself as a commanding presence in midfield.

Reflecting on Wanyama’s decision to hang up his boots, Kipchoge, widely regarded as one of the greatest marathoners of all time, spoke warmly of their long-standing friendship and expressed confidence in the retired skipper’s potential impact beyond the pitch.

“We are real friends. Victor is a huge footballer in Kenya. I visited him when he was at Tottenham twice. The second time, he was playing against Ajax.

I believe that in his post-playing career, he’s going to promote football in Kenya and bring a lot more knowledge on football to the next generation,” Kipchoge told ESPN.

The bond between the two sporting greats dates back close to a decade, having first connected during Wanyama’s time in England around the 2018–2019 season.

Their friendship has since grown, underpinned by mutual respect and a shared commitment to elevating Kenya’s sporting profile on the global stage.

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Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic champion, also turned his attention to the current plight of Tottenham Hotspur, a club he began supporting during Wanyama’s tenure.

The London side, currently enduring a difficult campaign, find themselves third from bottom in the 20-team English Premier League standings on 31 points, just one shy of safety, with five matches remaining.

Amid growing concerns over a potential relegation, Kipchoge maintained his loyalty to the reigning UEFA Europa League champions, acknowledging the uncertainty that defines football.

“I’m still a Tottenham fan. We’re having a rough time. We’re ranked in the Premier League bottom three, and I don’t know whether we’ll survive relegation or not.

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All in all, it’s football,” he said. “We always say football is like life: we don’t celebrate for 90 minutes, so we’ll see.”

Should Spurs, now under the stewardship of Roberto De Zerbi, fail to escape the drop, it would mark a historic setback, potentially ending their three-decade-long stay in England’s top flight.