Tottenham take on Ricardo Rocha
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Article summary
Tottenham Hotspur FC are to sign Portugal defender Ricardo Rocha from their UEFA Cup rivals SL Benfica after the two clubs settled on an undisclosed fee.
Article body
International standard
The 28-year-old spent four and a half years with the Lisbon outfit, helping them to the league title in the 2004/05 campaign. The centre-back has been capped six times, having established himself during UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying. The former FC Famalicão and SC Braga player made five appearances in this season's UEFA Champions League group stage, having helped Benfica to the quarter-finals last time around. His contribution to the cause earned the following tribute today: "Benfica wish to acknowledge the great professionalism that Ricardo Rocha showed throughout his time at the club."
Davenport departure
Tottenham had created room for Ricardo Rocha by allowing former England Under-21 defender Calum Davenport to go to West Ham United FC last week. Although this is their only new face this transfer window, the London side have also been busy securing starlets Aaron Lennon and Tom Huddlestone on long-term deals. Tottenham, who are in English League Cup semi-final action against Arsenal FC tomorrow night, have lost midfielder Teemu Tainio for up to two weeks with an ankle sprain.
'Considerable experience'
Tottenham sporting director Damien Comolli said of the transfer: "Ricardo is an accomplished defender who gives us further options in defence as he can play both in the centre and on the right. He brings considerable experience to Tottenham having played at the highest level in European competition."
