'First British-Asian to play for Tottenham Hotspur' - 5 things you should know about Spurs' Dilan Markanday twitter facebook reddit twitter facebook reddit

October 21, 2021, was a dream come true for young Tottenham Hotspur starlet Dilan Markanday as he got to make his senior debut for the club in a Europa Conference League group stage tie against Vitesse at the GelreDome Stadium in Arnhem, Netherlands.

Although the result wasn't ideal for Spurs as they lost to the Dutch side 1-0, it proved to be a memorable day for the Indian origin academy graduate of the club who finally got to represent the club at a senior level. Markanday came on as a substitute in the 54th minute, replacing Dane Scarlett.

As Nuno Espirito Sanchez handed the 20-year-old youngster his senior professional debut, we take a look at five things one needs to know about the player.

Born to Indian parents at Barnet, London

The new Tottenham Hotspur star was born as Dilan Kumar Markanday on August 21, 2001, to Indian parents Deepa and Arun Markanday at Barnet in London, England. At the age of 15 in 2017, Markanday joined the youth system of the London-based club.

Fifth British-Indian player to play for a Premier League club

By making his debut for Tottenham Hotspur on October 21, Dilan Markanday became the fifth British-Indian footballer in history to represent a Premier League club. Several British-Indian players have played in England in the past before Markanday, only four managed to represent a Premier League side.

Jimmy Carter was the first-ever British-Indian and British-Asian to play for a Premier League club. Later Michael Chopra, Neil Taylor and Yan Dhanda followed Carter's path. Markanday becomes the latest entrant in that list. It has to be noted that neither Dhanda nor Markanday is yet to play a game in the Premier League though. He is also the first-ever British-Asian player to represent Tottenham at the senior level.

Idolises Ryan Giggs, prefers Messi over Ronaldo

Marakande being a left-footed player, grew up idolising Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs. He also prefers Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo which he revealed in an interview in 2020.

31 goals in 86 matches for Tottenham Hotspur at the youth level

Dilan Markanday has been representing Tottenham Hotspur's U18 and U23 sides in the U18 Premier League and Premier League 2 Division 1. Since the 2017-18 season, the right winger has represented the club in 86 matches where he scored 31 goals. In the 2018-19 U18 Premier League season, Markanday had managed to score 11 goals in 21 appearances. He was nominated twice for Premier League two Division One Player of the Month, once in April and the second time in August 2021. He was also nominated for Tottenham's Goal of the Month Award in August 2021 which eventually Heung-Min Son won.

Won a 'Best overseas Player' award in a tournament in Italy

Representing Tottenham's youth side in an international tournament held in Italy back in 2018, Dilan Markanday had won the 'Best overseas Player' award in the competition as his club finished third. Spurs had managed to beat Juventus twice in that tournament but lost to eventual champions Atalanta in the semifinal.