Photo by ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
For the third time in the last five years, Tottenham will be spending a portion of their preseason in the United States.
Tottenham announced today that they have scheduled friendly matches against the Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire next July ahead of the 2014/2015 English Premier League season. Former Spurs forward Clint Dempsey moved from Tottenham to the Sounders last August in a reported MLS-record transfer deal.
“Everyone is looking forward to traveling to the United States – the club’s third tour there in five years,” Tottenham head coach Tim Sherwood said in a statement. “Pre-season preparations are always key ahead of a new campaign. We all know that the U.S. has first-class facilities, while Major League Soccer is growing each year. The MLS opposition we face will be in the middle of their seasons and playing in their home stadiums so we can expect strong tests from both Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire. This can only help as we plan for the new season.
Tottenham are currently scheduled to play Seattle on July 19 and Chicago on July 26. The kickoff times of both games are yet to be determined.
Back in 2010 and 2012, Tottenham spent a large chunk of their preseason preparations in the United States, facing the San Jose Earthquakes and New York Red Bulls in 2010 and the LA Galaxy and Red Bulls again in 2012, as well as one more friendly against Liverpool in between.
Tottenham currently have one American player on their roster, goalkeeper Brad Friedel, while Dempsey played on the team for the 2012-2013 season. Tottenham currently sit in seventh place in the league and are in the Europa League knockout stages.
Adding to the club’s links with MLS, forward Jermain Defoe has been heavily linked with a move next month to Toronto FC.
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