Wigan Athletic to Tottenham - The Connections

There aren`t too many players that have been employed by both the Latics and Spurs, not that surprising really when you consider that for much of the history of both clubs not only have we been separated by 200 miles but also a different world as far as playing in the same league has been concerned.

Through some research at yeoldtreeandcrown.co.uk I have found the following connections:

Dave Beasant, Mark Bowen, Michael Brown, Pascal Chimbonda, Erik Edman, Mido, Wilson Palacios, Reto Ziegler

All from a relatively recent time and two players should be lining up on Sunday to face their former clubs; Wilson Palacios the former Latics ace now in the Tottenham side and Wigan left back Erik Edman back on familiar territory at Spurs.


Wilson Palacios joined the Latics in January 2008 when then boss Steve Bruce brought the Honduras international to England on a permanent deal for just short of £1 million from Deportivo Olimpia.

Wilson was an instant hit and his all action midfield play endeared him to the Latics faithful, always playing with a smile on his face he packed his game with energy, quality and enthusiasm that earned him many plaudits and just as many suitors, so it was no surprise when Harry Redknapp came calling with a big fat check to tempt the Latics to part with their prize asset.

January 2009 Wigan Athletic were chasing European qualification, sitting comfortably in 7th spot in the league just behind Everton and Arsenal with a game in hand, following the 1-0 win against Spurs and the performance of Palacios in that game the inevitable happened.

A £14 million offer for a player who`d only cost £1 million 12 months previously was too much for the club to reject and though it appeared that Wilson was reluctant to leave the Latics he did as we know sign for Spurs on the 21st January, of the following 18 Premier League matches we won only 3, that`s how important Palacios was to the Latics last season.

Some footage of Wilson playing for the Latics at City




Erik Edman joined the Latics in January 2008 for £500,000 from French club Rennes and slotted immediately into the team looking like a class signing and helping to steady a leaky defence has the Latics made a successful recovery in the 2nd half of the season following a dreadful start that had relegation written all over it.

Unfortunately the Sweden international suffered a horrific knee injury at the end of March 2008 that was going to keep him out of the first team for almost 18 months, indeed Edman made his first Premier League start in the Latics last league game against Fulham since the injury.

In August 2004 Edman signed for Spurs from Dutch club SC Heerenveen and made 31 appearances that season, scoring a wonder goal at Anfield in April 2005, it was a surprise when Spurs accepted an offer from Rennes for Edman in August 2005 and a year after joining he left.



Erik Edman scores for Spurs against Liverpool


Many thanks to Bernard Ramsdale at yeoldtreeandcrown.co.uk for his truly amazing Latics A-Z player archive




T-Shirt Competition

Vital Wigan are running a competition for three lucky members to receive a Latics WN1 T-Shirt signed by the boss himself Roberto Martinez.

So how do you get to win a T-Shirt signed by the gaffer? Simply answer the following question.

Where is the new Latics WN1 situated?

A - The Galleries
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C - The Royal Arcade

Send your answer to: wigan@vitalfootball.co.uk, be sure to mark your email T-Shirt comp, include your name and a postal address and T-Shirt size required (these will be passed onto Wigan Athletic who will distribute the prize) and Vital username.

Closing date Friday 4th December 5pm












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