Soccer:Tottenham's first European Cup match for almost half a century will be against Swiss side Young Boys following today's Champions League play-off round draw.
Spurs will face the Bern outfit, who they have never previously met, over two legs for a place in the lucrative group stage.
Tottenham’s last foray in Europe’s premier club competition came in the 1961-62 season.
It's a dream draw for Harry Redknapp’s men, who avoided much tougher teams in the shape of Sampdoria, Dynamo Kiev, Auxerre and Celtic’s conquerors Braga.
Last term saw Spurs finally fulfil their ambition of breaking into the Barclays Premier League top four, thereby securing a coveted Champions League spot.
The first leg of their play-off round tie will take place in Bern on August 17/18, with the second leg at White Hart Lane the following Tuesday or Wednesday.
Jermain Defoe has claimed Spurs will go further than bitter rivals Arsenal in the competition.
"If we can get past the play-off qualifier, I honestly think we will go further than Arsenal in the Champions League," he told today's
Daily Mirror.
"No disrespect to Arsenal, because they have a good record in the Champions League and for them it's become part of the furniture, part of their regular season - it's the norm.
"But I can't wait to experience the buzz around White Hart Lane on European nights, the place will be absolutely rocking.
"I do believe, if we can make that first step, that we will be contenders. We've got the squad, younger players like Gareth Bale have come on a bundle since we were last in Europe, and the gaffer would love to show what he can do as a manager in Europe."
Spurs' squad are not used to the increased workload of a Champions League campaign, with the first leg of the play-off following just days after the Barclays Premier League opener against Manchester City.
"With City first up followed by a Champions League qualifier, it feels like the business end of our campaign might be in the first few weeks," Defoe continued. "It's a tough schedule, but we will be ready for it mentally.
"Tottenham fans have been waiting forever for a team to deliver Champions League football and we don't want to be one-hit wonders."
Champions League play-off - Champions route
FC Salzburg (Aus) v Hapoel Tel Aviv (Isr)
Rosenborg BK (Swe) v FC Copenhagen (Den)
FC Basel (Swi) v FC Sheriff (Mol)
Sparta Prague (Cze) v MSK Zilina (Slo)
FK Partisan (Ser) v Anderlecht (Bel)
Champions League play-off - League route
Young Boys (Swi) v Tottenham Hotspur (Eng)
FC Braga (Por) v Sevilla FC (Spa)
SV Werder Bremen (Ger) v Sampdoria (Ita)
FC Zenit St Petersburg (Rus) v AJ Auxerre (Fra)
FC Dynamo Kiev (Ukr) v AFC Ajax (Hol)
First leg ties to be played on August 17th or 18th
Second leg ties to be played on August 23rd or 24th