Chris Hughton says he's grateful for his time with Tottenham.

The former Brighton manager says Spurs have always been a thread throughout his life.

“From where I am as a manager now, there is no doubt Tottenham set me up for that in what I was able to be involved in as a coach," he told the club's website. “I've seen players develop, seen players have such great careers and I'm consistently seeing teamsheets with players who have had an association with Spurs, so many. That's very rewarding.

“I managed to play just under 400 games at Tottenham and whenever anyone speaks to me about Spurs, the obvious thing is playing but I think of the whole lot, the 27 years.

“If you'd have asked me as a young player if I'd have had the coaching and managerial career I've had, I would have said 'no'. I didn't have the football background of other players so to go on and be a coach at Tottenham for so long, that's something I never thought would happen.

“I tend to look at it all over a 27-year period, playing, coming back and coaching with Ossie, being at the club for so long, for me it's been a privilege. That's what I'm most proud of.

“As a young kid I never really supported a team. I was from east London, always playing football but didn't support a team. My father wasn't really interested in football. From the age I came to Tottenham, 13, that was it. Spurs are my team and always will be, no matter where I manage. That hasn't changed and won't change."