Tottenham defender Eric Dier has paid tribute to former club, Sporting.
The England international came through the Lisbon giants’ academy before moving back to England, initially joining Everton on loan in 2011 and playing for their youth teams.
A move to north London would follow three years later as Mauricio Pochettino began forming a young team who would eventually challenge for both the Premier League and the Champions League.
While the 28-year-old had struggled for a period in a post-Pochettino Spurs set-up, Dier has returned to his best under Antonio Conte.
A key figure in the side as Spurs overtook Arsenal and made it back into the Champions League, Dier played almost every minute for which he was available under the Italian’s watch.
The defender returned to Lisbon during the summer break after being overlooked by Gareth Southgate for England’s Nations League campaign and told the club’s website: “I learned a lot of my principles here as a person and as a player.
“I learned from everyone, from the kitchen people to the coaches. Everyone has marked me in one way or another. I will always carry Sporting with me. I owe everything to this club.”
