ramon vega - fact file

1996 - 2000            defender

FULL NAME : -  RAMON VEGA

Born on 14th June 1971 in Olten, Switzerland.

Height : - .m

Weight : -  - kgs

 


Ramon Vega was a virtual unknown when he signed for Tottenham, other than an appearance for his country in the first game against England in Euro '96.  A big, strong centre-half, he was thought to be an ideal partner in defence for Sol Campbell, but it didn't really turn out like that.

Vega's blunders became highlighted by the media and the fans and there was some unnecessary booing of his name during the naming of the team prior to kick off on some occasions.  The player always tried his best, but for some fans that was not good enough.  Ramon did win a lot of stuff in the air, but on the ground, he was a bit more suspect.

His heart was obviously with Tottenham and he wanted the club to do well, but he needed to concentrate on his positional play and learn the right moment to play football out of defence and when to hoof it clear (c.f. Barnsley away in the league 97-98). Could sometimes be a dominant figure in the middle of the Spurs defence if he got things right.

The centre-half never seemed to see eye-to-eye with goalkeeper Walker on the pitch.  Injury hit his 1998/99 season and restricted him to bit part performances, but when he played he has had his moments, but needed to perform more consistently to get a regular position in the side with more competition than ever at centre-half.  George Graham's arrival signified an upturn in his form, including his solid performance in the Worthington Cup Final and THAT tackle on Heskey to keep it 0-0. His celebrations showed how much he loved it at Tottenham and what it meant to do well. Having flown straight to Switzerland for surgery, as he thought it might be a career threatening injury, Ramon than spent nine months out and in the following season he faced a battle with Perry for the berth alongside Sol in defence.

Following injury, Ramon was unable to find a way back into the first team, until injuries struck the defence and GG used him up against strong forwards.  However, a run of errors and bad luck in conceding penalties saw his replacement by younger players. 

Vega left Tottenham on 16th December 2000 to join Glasgow Celtic on a free transfer, where he won the Treble in the Scottish game, before ending up at Watford.  Then moved to France to play for a little known side to end his career.

On leaving the game, Ramon opened up two soccer schools in Marbella Spain and West Yorkshire, while also having a business interest in a Romford jewellery shop and working as an investment consultant for an asset management company in the City of London.  Fluent in five languages, the Swiss international already had a business degree in banking before he came to Tottenham.

 

NICKNAME :   Vaguer

Career Record
 
Club Signed Fee Debut Apps Goals
Grasshoppers (Switzerland) 1990        
Cagliari (Italy) 1996        
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 1997        
Glasgow Celtic 16th December 2000        
Watford 2001 Free   29 + 4 as a sub 3
Creteil-Lusitanos (France) 2002        

Career Record
Grasshoppers (Switzerland)
- League appearances; goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
European appearances; goals
Cagliari (Italy)

- League appearances; goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
European appearances; goals
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
- League appearances; goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
European appearances; goals
Glasgow Celtic
- League appearances; goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
European appearances; goals
Watford

- League appearances; goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
- Other appearances; goals
Creteil-Lusitanos (France)
- League appearances; goals
- FA Cup appearances; goals
- League Cup appearances; goals
- Other appearances; goals

Honours
Switzerland international
28 full caps;  1 goal
?? Under-21 caps; ?? goals
Swiss League winners medal  1990-1991, 1994-1995, 1995-1996 (Grasshoppers)
Swiss Cup winners medal 1993-94 (Grasshoppers)
League Cup winners medal 1998-99 (Tottenham Hotspur)
Scottish Premier League championship winners medal 2000-2001 (Glasgow Celtic)
Scottish FA Cup winners medal 2000-2001 (Glasgow Celtic)
Scottish League Cup winners medal 2000-2001 (Glasgow Celtic)
Selected in FIFA World XI v Russian All Stars XI (Moscow) (Russian FA's centenary match) 1997
 

           

What they said about Ramon Vega
Blind, Stupid and Desperate (Watford fans website)

"And there were times when he was immense. When he'd pull off ridiculous saving tackles, setting off in pursuit in that unique style - like a skier on an uphill climb, all hunched shoulders, pumping arms and slowly sliding feet - and wrap an elongated leg around his opponent to take the ball away at the vital moment. Or when he'd win everything in the air with gigantic leaps and burly strength. It was just that he didn't do any of this consistently. In fact, he didn't do anything - not even the most straightforward things - consistently."

?? ... ...  ()

-

 

What Ramon Vega said about ...
... the stick he got at Tottenham ...  27.06.2008 (Metro newspaper)

"Look.  I had a great time at Tottenham.  The highlight was the Worthington Cup in 1999 and to be honest there weren't many highlights.  But I enjoyed myself and I think the side played good football with some great players like Klinsmann and David Ginola.  I'd like to hope the fans remember that."

... still following Spurs ...  27.06.2008 (Metro newspaper)

"Yes, I think they have progressed well in the last few years, firstly under Martin Jol and now Juande Ramos.  The way Jol was sacked was not very mice, but Ramos is the right man to take the club forward.  He is one of the best coaches in the world and can take the club to the next level."

... on his crunching tackle on Emile Heskey, as he raced towards the Spurs goal in the 1999 League Cup Final ...  26.02.2009 (THFC programme)

"Without knowing I went into the game with a fractured ankle.  The tackle on Heskey put a lot of force on my ankle and it certainly made my injury worse.  But through the whole emotions of competing in a big game, you just don't seem to feel the pain.  You just worry about getting the win for your team and nothing else.  Once the game is finished, the pain kicked in and it was pretty bad.  My face was white."

... on wining the League Cup in 1999 ...  26.02.2009 (THFC programme)

"Winning a medal with a club like Spurs, who have such a fine cup tradition, is a particularly big achievement.  It's something I'm very proud of.  I still feel really grateful and fortunate to this day that I got the opportunity to play for Tottenham, that the club took a chance on me and brought me to England.  I will never forget that. "

... ? ...  .. ()

"."

-

 

 

“that.”

 

 

 

Appearances

Season League FA Cup League Cup UEFA Cup
- - - - -
- - - - -

            For other articles on Ramon Vega

          By - -

Back to homepage