With injuries hitting Ledley King regularly, Spurs sought to buy an experienced central defender, but when some of their targets were snapped up by other clubs, they turned to Portugal, where Ricardo Rocha had been playing at Champions League level with Benfica.  Some regarded it as a panic buy, as the player was not well known and was not a regular international.

His career started playing for a local club Famalicano, who spotted him as a youngster, before the bigger side in the area - SC Braga - bought him.  His rise was fairly rapid, as he was only there for two years before his reputation as a good man-marker was noted by top side Benfica, who took him to the Stadium of Light.

Ricardo spent four and a half years at Benfica, playing over 150 games for the club including over 30 in European competitions, but the bid of £3.3 million from Spurs, plus the promise of the takings from two friendlies between the two clubs tempted them to part with the man who has represented his country on a number of occasions.

Coming into the Tottenham side, Rocha was required to play straight away and he showed good commitment and effort, while adjusting to the pace of the Premiership.  He has a good jump and can shadow players well, but sometimes, he make makes errors, such as the one where he slipped when clearing the ball in the League Cup semi-final against Arsenal and presented them with a goal.

Injuries have struck the Portuguese defender and restricted him having a run in the side, but his patience is important as Spurs suffer a number of injuries in that department of the squad.  With a change of manager, Rocha may yet have a part to play in the Tottenham defence.