“People don’t clock you” – Tottenham fan-favourite on taking the tube in London, surprised no-one else did it

If there’s one man who managed to win the hearts of Tottenham fans on the pitch but also off it with his personality, it’s Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

The former defender, who retired in 2018, sat down with defender Julian Palmieri for his YouTube show Carton Jaune to discuss his footballing career.

Previously revealing that he turned down a move to Tottenham’s arch rivals because they spent the night in hotels before games, Assou-Ekotto also revealed that he was a fan of taking the tube in London.

This is perhaps surprising, seeing as public transport isn’t exactly a favourite among rich footballers, but the ex-Cameroon international was never your everyday sportsperson.

Asked what he liked about London and how he and his personality dealt with such a big city after coming in from Lens, he was very candid.

He said: “If you play in London… I’ll give you an example. I spoke with a player and asked him when you’re in front of this tube station, do you go left or right? He told me: ‘I don’t know where that tube station is’. I ask him if he ever takes the tube and he says no, just the car, always.

“And so I ask him when it’s 5pm and you’re in the car for an hour but the tube trip would take you 10 minutes, he says yes. Me, personally, I never took the car in London, and you’re not a footballer, you take the tube, people don’t clock you. There’s so many clubs in London, the guy in front of you could support QPR, and the other supports Chelsea. They don’t clock you, you’re almost just another guy.”

The 40-year-old last played a game of football in 2018 for Metz, but spent nearly nine years at Tottenham after signing for them in 2006.

During that time, the defender made 204 appearances for Spurs, scoring four goals and assisting another 11, also spending a year on loan at QPR under Harry Redknapp.