I saw Harry Kane at the Tottenham academy and warned the club how good he would be with the comparison between Robbie Fowler and Alan Shearer.

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I saw Harry Kane at the Tottenham academy and warned the club how good he would be with the comparison between Robbie Fowler and Alan Shearer.


Brad Friedel has recalled how a training session with young Harry Kane convinced Tottenham he would become a superstar.

The former USA goalkeeper spent 18 years playing in England before hanging up his gloves with Spurs in 2015, meaning he and Kane were technically teammates.

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Harry Kane may owe his professional success to Brad FriedelCredit: AFP

While studying for his coaching badges, Friedel was in north London at the same time as Kane when he was trying to force his way into the first team.

After mixed loan spells with Leyton Orient, Norwich and Leicester, the striker faced an uncertain future with Tottenham due to his inability to break into the starting XI.

But speaking on talkSPORT Drive, Friedel told how he could have boosted Kane’s hopes of becoming a first-team regular at Spurs.

Responding to Jason Cundy calling him the best No.9 in the world, Friedel said: “I would agree.

“When I was finishing at Tottenham and I was finishing my coaching badges – my UEFA B, UEFA A and my professional license – I think it was between my B and my A that Harry was still at the under-21s as was the case at the time and break into the first team.

“He wanted to stay behind to finish all the time with John McDermott who I think is one of the best young developers in world football, and he is now technical director of the FA.

“We came in after one of the training sessions and he said ‘who was good’ and I said ‘Kane’. He said, “Anyone else?” and I said “no, Harry Kane”.

“I said he had the shot pace of Shearer and the back-lift of Robbie Fowler.

The striker seized his opportunity when he joined the senior team.

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The striker seized his opportunity when he joined the senior team.Credit: Getty
Kane struggled to break into Tottenham's plans before a word from Friedel changed things

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Kane struggled to break into Tottenham’s plans before a word from Friedel changed things
Friedel spotted Kane's potential and made sure they knew how good he was

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Friedel spotted Kane’s potential and made sure they knew how good he was

“If you’ve ever played as a goalkeeper against Robbie Fowler, his back-lift is tiny and you don’t have time to get up and the ball is at your side before you know it.

“He (Fowler) was so precise on the corners, as we know from his own goalscoring record and Shearer, I don’t even think he looked up at the goalkeeper.

Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane responds to Arsenal fans chanting anti-Tottenham song during live TV interview

“He just smashed the ball and if the goalkeeper could save it then fair play to him. When I played against him, it seemed like that was how he approached the end.

“Kane was superb. I wouldn’t say Spurs were questioning it, but he (McDermott) sat back in his chair and wanted to know more about why a player who had played so many Premier League games just said that about one of his academy players. some questions.

“It wasn’t about whether he was a good pro or whether he would have a professional career, but whether he was going to be the best No.9 in the world.

“If you saved his shot, it was a great save.”

Kane became Tottenham’s all-time top scorer during his time at the club with 280 to his name before leaving for Bayern Munich last summer.

Since then, he has scored 39 goals for the German side, with Bayern hoping to go all the way in the Champions League.

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