A little, jinking midfielder who made a big impression, but was unlucky to have competition with Glenn Hoddle for the playmaker's role in the Spurs side, Micky Hazard was brought back after leaving Tottenham to add some creativity in the team.
A talented youngster representing Sunderland and Durham Schools, Micky was spotted by a Tottenham scout in the North-East at 14, Hazard was invited to train with the club and did so on a weekly basis until at 16 he moved to London to join Spurs as an apprentice. A long way from home, Micky suffered from home-sickness and made six trips back to the North-East during his time in the youth team.
His dribbling ability made him a tough opponent to stop and his passing accuracy provided the forwards in front of him with many chances. He was given his debut as a 19 year old and he became a useful player who made openings for goals to be scored from his midfield position. There was some inconsistency in the midfielder's game and that meant that he was in and out of the side, but had a number of more illustrious team-mates ahead of him in the pecking order.
It was Hazard's great balance and delivery that were his best assets, with good skill when it came to taking free-kicks too, such as the one that got Spurs through to the UEFA Cup Final in 1984. In Glenn Hoddle's absence, Micky was asked to perform the England man's role in the two legs of the UEFA Cup final of 1984, which he did well enough to help the side to victory over the two legs and extra time and penalties. Hazard produced the balls into the Anderlecht penalty area to produce the Tottenham goals in each leg of the final and showed what a presence he had in the middle of the pitch.
Left Spurs when he felt he wasn't getting enough first team action, joining Chelsea where he spent five injury-hit seasons and differences of opinion with the management, before transferring to Portsmouth for eight months. Left at the start of the 1990-91 season to join up with former team-mate Ossie Ardiles, manager of Swindon Town, who paid £130,000 for the diminutive schemer. He was a big part of their promotion to the First Division under Glenn Hoddle's leadership in 1992-93, but Ardiles signed Hazard again to bring him back to White Hart Lane.
the second spell wasn't quite as notable as his first, but Micky again showed why he was so effective with his control, shimmy to make a yard and passing through to the front two. He had to retire from the game in April 1995, taking up coaching of youngsters for Spurs and Crystal Palace and working as a London black cab driver.