A lanky, languid striker, Fredi Kanoute's effort and goal-scoring record was often under-mined by his laid back appearance.

For a long time, Kanoute had been linked with Spurs, but it was only at the last minute of the August 2003 transfer window, that Spurs signed up the former French Under-21 striker.

Starting his career at Olympique Lyonnais in 1997, he scored nine goals in 28 games over two and a half seasons, before being signed up by West Ham United.  At Upton Park, he was regarded as a little shy of a fight, although his goal-scoring record of 27 goals in three and half seasons was respectable in a struggling side.  If he had not been injured for a long period in 2002-03, his goals might have salvaged the Irons from relegation, but on going down to the First Division, the Hammers had to sell off their best players because of debts needing to be paid and Spurs swooped for Kanoute for £3.5 million.

A tall, lanky figure, he has deceptive strength on the ball and is pacy with it.  Injured in training before he even made an appearance for Tottenham, it was feared that the club had signed another injury-prone player, but on getting over the slight groin strain, Fredi announced his arrival at Tottenham with an entrance as a substitute against Leeds United and won the match for Spurs with a stunning bicycle kick.  He scored regularly and hit a screamer from 30 yards against Everton, making him a firm favourite with the Spurs crowd.

Following his absence from the side while away playing for his newly adopted country Mali at the 2004 African Nations Cup, he suffered in getting back to his best form.  He lack the goal-scoring touch and many Spurs fans commented on his lack of effort (something West Ham fans had voiced at his previous club).  

Back in the reckoning when Martin Jol took over from Jacques Santini, who also played him up front, he took on the role of target man, but his scoring still took second place to dropping out wide to provide chances for others.  A handball against Liverpool in the Carling Cup helped the Reds to equalise and this also upset a number of Spurs fans.

A skilful player, who's first touch was second to none, he loved the back-heel and step-over, so when he got two goals against Aston Villa at the end of the 2004-05 season, he looked back to doing what he did best.  But missing the end of season trip to Mauritius caused some friction with Jol and perhaps was the beginning of the end.  Rumours circulated during the summer of 2005 about moves to Newcastle United, West Ham United, Everton, West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City to back up Tottenham's intention to sell him, but the forward said he would be the one who decided which club he joined.

This came to be on 18th August 2005, when he made a £4.4 million transfer to Sevilla of Spain, where he won the UEFA Cup.