Ramos resumes UEFA Cup quest

Juande Ramos will start his campaign to complete a unique treble of UEFA Cup successes as manager of Tottenham Hotspur FC rather than Sevilla FC as the London club visit Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC on Matchday 2.

• The Spaniard, who guided the Andalusians to success in each of the last two editions of this competition, signed a contract until the end of the 2010/11 season on Saturday 27 October following the sacking of Martin Jol. "I greatly appreciate the opportunity to work at Tottenham Hotspur, a club with a great tradition and history," said Ramos, 53. "Ever since I started my coaching career I have wanted to work in England."

• Hapoel were beaten 2-0 at RSC Anderlecht in their opener while Tottenham lost only their second UEFA competition game at White Hart Lane 2-1 against Getafe CF in what was Jol's last game in charge.

• The two sides have never met in European competition.

• Hapoel have played four games against English sides in European club competition winning one, drawing one and losing two.

• Their best result against an English side saw them knock Chelsea FC out of the second round of the 2001/02 UEFA Cup - becoming the first Israeli club to reach the third round. Shimon Gershon and Andrei Clescenco scored in a 2-0 win in the home leg and Hapoel then earned a 1-1 draw in London, with Milan Osterc registering.

• None of the current Hapoel squad played in that game.

• In the same round of the same competition the following year, Hapoel met Leeds United AFC, but lost 1-0 away and 4-1 at home to bow out of Europe. That return leg was played at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence as a result of concerns over the security situation in Israel at the time. Alan Smith scored all four Leeds goals in Italy.

• Current Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson played in both legs of that tie for Leeds.

• Two-time UEFA Cup winners Tottenham have never met Israeli opposition before.

• A 2-1 defeat at Ramos's Sevilla ended a run of four straight European away wins for Tottenham. They drew their only subsequent away tie in the UEFA Cup 1-1 at Anorthosis Famagusta FC in the first round.

• Hapoel are unbeaten in their last six UEFA competition home games.

• Aalborg BK are at home against Anderlecht in the day's other Group G game.