Eric Dier – Player Profile
Eric Dier is an adaptable and multi-skilled defensive player who flickered between centre-back (CB) and right-back (RB) before finding his talent as a central defensive midfielder (CDM).
Eric Dier, although British born, spent a number of his childhood years in Portugal following a family move. Sporting Lisbon’s Academy were quick to sign the young Brit, who advanced through the ranks with ease becoming a first team player in 2012.
Dier joined Spurs in 2014 where he immediately impressed the fans with a late winner in the first game of the 2014-15 season. In a remarkable first season that saw two premier league goals in his first two matches, Dier showed great versatility adopting different defending roles during his 36 appearances.
Dier excelled as a CDM in Tottenham Hotspurs’s 2015-16 campaign where he made 37 Premier League starts, only missing one game through suspension. Eric Captained Spurs for the first time in the fourth round of the EFL Cup in October 2016. Following Victor Wanyama’s arrival at Spurs, Dier has found himself an integral part of the back three, together with defending counterparts Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen. 2016-17 was an excellent season for Dier as he made a Champions League debut and appeared for Spurs 46 times in all competitions.
Dier has been a regular starter for Spurs since joining the club and in January 2019 he made his 200th appearance for the club, coming on as a late substitute against Newcastle.
Internationally, Dier represented England at the U18, U19, U20 and U21 levels. He represented England for the first time in a senior capacity against Spain in 2015. Dier went on to skipper for England against Germany in November 2017. He also appeared for his nation in the 2018 World Cup, captaining England in their final group game against Belgium and scoring the winning penalty in the round of 16 against Colombia.
