Dier’s move to Bayern Munich brings the curtain down on a misunderstood and often maligned Spurs career
Goodbye to something less material at Tottenham and Eric Dier. Farewells in N17 are rarely heartfelt these days.On a whiteboard, Mauricio Pochettino wrote his. One-time heroes disappear out the back door with a whimper, and long-standing partnerships come to an end without much fanfare. Thus, Dier, one of the finest Spurs players of the modern age, leaves for Bayern Munich. What a shame it had to finish this way!
Dier the man has always struck me as straightforward, a charmingly composed image of stability and devotion. It will be challenging to describe the player to the grandchildren. He is the only man in history to score the winning penalty in a tournament shootout for England. a Champions League finalist who, following that historic night in Madrid, along with the rest of his teammates, went on a downhill spiral from which they would never fully recover.
Dier is hardly alone in being quietly and swiftly forgotten after ten years of service. Hugo Lloris and Danny Rose received no endorsements either; instead, there were only speculations and matchday squad exiles until they eventually parted company, which was inevitable.
2014’s summer of boundless possibilities saw Dier score the first goal of Pochettino’s tenure on his away debut against West Ham. He made 365 appearances while playing for six different managers, falling just short of Glenn Hoddle and Danny Blanchflower. Dier will only make those comparisons using that criterion, yet consistency is such a unique quality that it merits recognition.
Dier was undoubtedly a victim of the turmoil at Spurs throughout the previous ten years. In the past, Pochettino would ask his players to write their names on a chart with the categories “good,” “very good,” “excellent,” and “world-class” marked in boxes.
Moving the dial was the biggest difficulty of Dier’s Tottenham career, and he never claimed to fall into the bottom group. Rather, the wheel of fortune swung the other way, causing his form to collapse and a string of hip and muscular problems to impede his progress.
At his best, he was not only dependable but also a fantastic No. 6 option for Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama. Although they both believed they were unbeatable, Dier was essential to the Spurs’ championship runs, which included an undefeated season at White Hart Lane. Being a natural ball player, it was inevitable that he would become a skilled centre back instead of a powerful striker.
Under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, he had far too few chances to flourish in that capacity. In fact, a few of his former coworkers, Harry Winks among them, may nostalgically recall the moments behind sliding doors that, for better or worse, moulded their stay in north London.
These were the luxury midfielders who enjoyed the quick pace of a free-flowing midfield but lacked the inventiveness to create their own. Dier, a Portuguese speaker who joined Sporting Lisbon, the team he had played for the majority of his youth, thought Mourinho might be his mentor.
That was not how things turned out. Dier then participated in Nuno Espirito Santo’s three-month rule, played under two interim managers (Cristian Stellini and Ryan Mason), and stuck with the team through the worst of its 2019–2023 identity crisis.
His demise might have also been influenced by his adaptability. He expressed his wish to play centre half in 2020, saying that under Pochettino he had to be “politically correct” about his preferred position. However, Dier was a muck-in, and Bayern, who can make the loan deal permanent for just €4 million (£3.4 million) and with Agent Harry Kane’s blessing, have found something special.
Bayern have clearly received the raw end of a deal after Radu Dragusin passed on them in favour of Spurs and signed the player he is replacing.
But when it comes to what Dier can offer, Thomas Tuchel is realistic. He is essentially an expert in the central defensive position. He has experience playing as a holding midfielder. We can free up Leon Goretzka in midfield by using him in both a back four and a three-man defence, eliminating the need for him to alternate between playing as a No. 8 and being deeper. On Thursday, a medical examination will be finished in Munich.
He will be remembered mostly for his skills, just like other contemporary Spurs cult characters. Their histories are intertwined with both the events that did and did not occur. We lost two League Cup finals, two FA Cup semi-finals, and that Champions League final.
Since the highs never felt quite so untouchable, Dier’s decline has at least avoided the scrutiny of his best buddy, Dele Alli. The high excitement of Dele’s goals and tricks was never provided by the attackers standing up or the sliding interceptions.
Nevertheless, Dier went on to become the second-longest serving player for the team. Handshakes and dances had long since ceased, and the friendship with Dele seemed to be eroding as the club’s atmosphere worsened and the feelings changed.
Dier’s mistakes will stick in the minds of some. He has created seven Premier League goals that have led to goals throughout his time at Tottenham; even Virgil van Dijk has created five. It is impossible to judge a defender just on their times of weakness. Additionally, he assisted in rescuing a fan in
With lightning speed, he sprinted to the lavatory in the middle of a Newcastle match, whereupon he leapt into the crowd to pick a fight with a supporter who had insulted his family. Dier’s was a wild ride indeed.
Still, it was clearly time to move on. Bayern’s offer, which rejected Saudi Arabia’s overtures in the summer, was the most advantageous one for all involved. Ange Postecoglou recently gave a direct response when asked if he could afford to lose Dier given the current injury issue in the defence: “Yes.” Dier already didn’t have any illusions. Postecoglou deserves praise since no one is adhering to the bygone period anymore.
