Anthony Gardner joined Spurs as a nineteen year old for £1 million in the year 2000. He signed from Port Vale, where he had already established himself in the first team, and a lot was expected of his footballing future. Over the course of the next eight and a half years, Gardner would make 114 Premier League appearances for Spurs, as well as thirty more appearances in other competitions, and he earned a solitary England cap in 2004 in a friendly match against Denmark. Having lost his place at Spurs, he was loaned out to both Everton and Hull City before signing permanently for the Tigers in 2008. They were a Premier League side when he joined, but they were soon relegated and he went on to sign for Crystal Palace - initially on loan - before joining fellow Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in 2012. Although he did okay at Sheffield Wednesday - even being made captain - he has now been released and is a free agent at the age of 34. For someone who seemingly had a promising Premier League and international career, this is a major anti-climax.
