Iceman Gudjohnsen wants to turn up the heat at Spurs

03 February 2010

GUD TO BE BACK... Eidur Gudjohnsen admits he has missed the atmosphere of the Premier League.

By Ben Pearce

EIDUR Gudjohnsen has "suffered" since leaving England, and is thrilled to be back in the passionate cauldron of the Premier League.

The Icelandic international spent six years at Chelsea, before leaving for Barcelona and recently moving to Monaco, but the 31-year-old admits that nothing compares to England's top flight.

"I didn't think that I'd be coming back to the Premier League but football's a strange game," he said.

"Just to be back in the dressing room - the atmosphere and the sense of humour - it's good.

"I think it's the atmosphere that makes the Premier League so special, the passion of the fans and waking up on a matchday it seems the whole world is looking at the Premier League - I missed that.

"Obviously in Spain you get a similar passion for the game, but not quite the same, and in France it was completely different. It's something that I suffered. It didn't fit with my personality.

"I'm very grateful and really looking forward to a chance to be back in the Premier League at Tottenham. I think it's fair to say that I've found big motivation again and I'm very focused on doing everything I can to help the team.

"I remember the passion and the rivalry [with Chelsea]. Back in the day I probably would have said that I'll never play for Tottenham, but never say never in football."

Gudjohnsen was on the verge of joining West Ham last week, even undergoing a medical with the Irons before performing a last-minute U-turn and joining Spurs.

"Maybe people who followed the situation knew that I had two options, equal options financially," he said. "I hope it's the right choice and now it's up to me to show everyone that I did make the right choice and that I can be an influence, and that I can help this team to look upwards.

"I've always said that I grew up supporting Spurs. My father had an old tape of some Tottenham games and I used to wake up in the morning and watch that.

"We had an Icelandic player here a few years ago [Gudni Bergsson] and I think he kept the link going, so I did grow up supporting Tottenham Hotspur."

Gudjohnsen has revealed that it was his father, Arnor, whose spot-kick was saved by Tony Parks in the 1984 Uefa Cup final, as Spurs beat Anderlecht on penalties.

"My family has already played a part in Tottenham's success," he added. "Obviously it's not great memories for my father but it's strange how there are always links. It's a small world apparently.