‘I cried’: Defender Tottenham sold for £4m says he really regretted leaving Spurs

Over the years, several players have reached superstar status after leaving Tottenham Hotspur. Luka Modric claimed a Ballon d’Or following his departure, Gareth Bale secured five Champions League titles, and Harry Kane is on track to win the Bundesliga in his first season in Germany.

However, not every player finds success after moving on, and some come to regret their decisions. Michael Dawson, a former Tottenham defender, recently opened up about his departure from the club and revealed that he had deep regrets about leaving, even admitting that he shed tears over the move.

Dawson left Spurs in 2014 to join Hull City in a £4 million transfer. His first season at his new club ended in disappointment as Hull suffered relegation from the Premier League.

Reflecting on the experience, Dawson admitted that he questioned his decision, especially after seeing his new team drop to the Championship. The move left him with doubts, and he recalled the emotional toll it took on him.

He could have remained at Spurs, where he still had two years left on his contract, but his desire to play regular football led him to make a decision that, in hindsight, he wished he could undo.

After Hull’s relegation, Dawson struggled with the reality of his choice, wondering whether he would ever return to the Premier League. Fortunately, Hull managed to secure promotion the following season, giving Dawson another opportunity to compete against top-flight clubs.

The joy of returning to England’s highest level was a defining moment for him, especially when he had the chance to play against teams like Tottenham, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Manchester City again.

However, despite that brief redemption, he remained aware that his career trajectory had shifted downward since leaving Spurs.

During an interview on the Sky Sports Essential Football Podcast, Dawson was asked whether he had serious doubts about his decision to leave. Without hesitation, he admitted that he had cried, stating that there was no shame in showing emotion over something so significant.

He explained that footballers make choices without knowing what the future holds, and in his case, his career could have taken a different path had he remained in North London.

While he played over 30 games for Hull in the Premier League, the team’s relegation was a painful experience, making him wish he could turn back time.

Dawson’s struggles after leaving Tottenham extended beyond his emotions and career regrets. Whenever he faced his former club, he endured a tough time on the pitch as well.

His record against Spurs as a Hull City player was disappointing, as he lost every match he played against them. Over four encounters, Hull failed to earn a single point, and one of those matches ended in a humiliating 7-1 defeat on the final day of the 2016/17 season.

Dawson’s struggles against Tottenham highlighted the stark contrast between his time at Spurs and his post-Tottenham career. While he was a respected figure in North London, his experience at Hull failed to reach the same heights.

Eventually, he moved to his boyhood club, Nottingham Forest, where he saw out the final years of his playing career. However, his time at Spurs remained the pinnacle of his career, and his departure left him with a lingering sense of what could have been.

Some players leave Tottenham and find success on the biggest stages, but for Dawson, the decision to move on came with heavy regrets. His story serves as a reminder that not every transfer leads to greater opportunities, and sometimes, staying put can be the best option.