Who are Tottenham Hotspur’s biggest rivals? Spurs’ top five fiercest football rivalries

Tottenham Hotspur are one of English football's most recognisable clubs, and their position in north London means there has never been a shortage of teams for Spurs supporters to dislike.

Some rivalries are rooted in geography, while others have developed through years of competitive battles, controversial incidents and the occasional transfer that goes down particularly badly.

The intensity of those rivalries has changed over the years, with some fixtures carrying considerably more weight than others. Arsenal are Spurs' undisputed biggest rivals, while Chelsea and West Ham United provide two more fierce London derbies. Liverpool and Manchester United have also developed significant sporting rivalries with Tottenham.

FootballGroundGuide takes a look at the five fiercest football rivalries involving Spurs.

Arsenal

There can be little doubt that Arsenal are Tottenham's biggest rivals.

The North London derby is one of the most famous local derbies in world football, with the two clubs based just four miles apart and supporters on both sides considering the other their main enemy.

The rivalry truly began in 1913 when Arsenal moved from Woolwich in south London to Highbury, bringing the Gunners into Tottenham's part of the capital. More than a century later, that initial resentment has turned into one of English football's fiercest contests.

There have been countless memorable meetings, including Arsenal winning the league at White Hart Lane in 1971 and securing the title during their unbeaten 2003-04 campaign at Spurs' ground. Tottenham's 5-0 victory in 1983 and Arsenal's 5-4 win at White Hart Lane in 2004 are among the other classics.

Sol Campbell's controversial switch from Spurs to Arsenal in 2001 added another deeply personal element.

Chelsea

Chelsea are another major London rival and have long been one of Tottenham's most fiercely contested opponents.

The clubs have never quite matched the intensity of Arsenal's hatred for Spurs, but years of significant matches and trouble between supporters have made this one of the capital's most important derbies.

The 1967 FA Cup final was an early landmark, while Chelsea's rise under Roman Abramovich added greater competitive significance as both clubs increasingly fought for European qualification and domestic honours. The rivalry reached boiling point in the Premier League era during the infamous “Battle of the Bridge” in 2016.

That 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge ended Tottenham's title challenge and featured an extraordinary level of aggression as the game descended into chaos.

Chelsea eventually have the stronger historical record in the fixture, but the occasions are rarely short of needle.

West Ham United

The rivalry with West Ham provides Spurs with another fierce London derby, this time pitting north London against east London.

It does not come close to the hatred between Tottenham and Arsenal, but the proximity of the clubs and regular Premier League meetings have ensured plenty of hostility.

Both clubs have also found themselves competing for similar league positions, while players moving between the two sides have occasionally added another layer of intrigue. The dispute over the future use of the Olympic Stadium in the early 2010s particularly strained relations between the clubs and their respective boards.

With West Ham's traditional rivals coming from elsewhere in east London, Spurs have increasingly become an important enemy for the Hammers.

The rivalry is likely to remain significant whenever the two clubs are competing in the same division.

Liverpool

Liverpool are a more modern sporting rival than a traditional local enemy, with the rivalry largely built around repeated battles for league positions and major honours.

It is difficult to pinpoint exactly when the fixture became particularly significant, but the clubs' competitive clashes have made it increasingly important.

The rivalry reached its peak with the 2019 Champions League final in Madrid, when Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0 to lift the trophy. That season also featured the individual battle between Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah, adding a Golden Boot subplot to the wider contest.

There have also been frequent battles for Champions League qualification, ensuring that meetings between the sides have often carried serious consequences.

It may lack the cultural hostility of Arsenal or Chelsea, but Liverpool remain one of Tottenham's more significant modern opponents.

Manchester United

Manchester United's rivalry with Tottenham is another that has largely been shaped by competitive matches rather than geography.

The two clubs have spent decades battling near the top of English football, producing plenty of memorable encounters along the way.

One of the most famous came in September 2001, when United staged an extraordinary comeback at Old Trafford after falling 3-0 behind at half-time. Sir Alex Ferguson's side eventually won 5-3 in one of the Premier League's great turnarounds.

Tottenham eventually got their revenge in October 2020, when Spurs demolished United 6-1 at Old Trafford. There have also been several intriguing off-field twists, from Spurs' attempts to lure Ferguson to White Hart Lane in 1984 to their failed pursuit of Ole Gunnar Solskjær in 1998.

The rivalry may not match Spurs' London feuds, but it has produced more than enough drama to earn its place.