Kyle Walker Salutes 'Animal' Dele Alli for Conquering Tottenham's Brutal Gacon Hell-Run

Ever wondered what it takes to separate the men from the boys at Tottenham Hotspur? Kyle Walker reckons he's got the answer, and it's none other than his old mate Dele Alli, the only player he's ever seen smash the infamous Gacon running test. We're talking a lung-busting shuttle that'd have most pros chucking in the towel after a few laps.

Walker, now plying his trade at Burnley after stints at Spurs and Man City, spilled the beans on The Overlap podcast. "It kicks off at 145m with 45 seconds to hit the cone, jog five metres up, then sprint back. Rinse and repeat across 16 or 17 markers," he explained. Dele? Absolute beast mode. No one else came close.

Dele's Glory Days and Rocky Road

Back in the day, Dele was Spurs' golden boy – a midfield maestro who bagged 22 goals in the 2016-17 season, nabbing his second PFA Young Player of the Year gong. Real Madrid were circling like sharks, eyeing the England cap-winner with 37 senior outings.

But football's a cruel mistress. Off-field niggles and on-pitch dips saw him cut adrift by Como last year after a single sub appearance – complete with a daft red card against AC Milan, where ironically Walker's on loan there too. Dele's been clubless since February 2023, but social media clips show him grafting solo. Fingers crossed 2026 brings a comeback, eh?

Walker, who rolled with Dele after joining Spurs in 2009, still rates him sky-high. It's that north London loyalty – even if Dele's career's hit the skids while Walker's soared.

Walker's Spurs Exit: City Calling, Chelsea Snubbed

Fast-forward to 2017, and Walker was 27, comfy at Spurs in a back-five setup alongside Danny Rose. Then Pep Guardiola rang – game-changer. "I was gutted to leave, but now or never," he admitted.

Chelsea sniffed around, but nah – derby rivalry's too fierce. Bayern Munich flirted via Daniel Levy's wheeler-dealing (think Gareth Bale vibes), but Pep's vision sealed it. Sink or swim at the Etihad. Spoiler: he swam like a shark.

Pep's Revolution: From Doubt to Domination

Early days at City? Hairy. Walker rocked up to pre-season expecting Mauricio Pochettino-style sprints – run 'em ragged, boss the pitch. Instead, Pep's got Sergio Aguero (Kun) faffing about, barely breaking sweat.

"Back in the hotel, I rang me dad: 'I've cocked it up,'" Walker laughed. Pep hates pointless running – all ball work, tactical wizardry. Walker traded hard yards for silverware: six Premier League titles, six domestic cups, and that glorious 2022-23 Treble with a Champions League cherry on top.

Dele's the cautionary tale, Walker's the dream run. Both started at Spurs, but paths diverged wildly. Still, Walker's got Dele's back – that Gacon legend lives on. What's next for the free agent? Everton whispers? MLS jaunt? Or a phoenix rise in the Championship? Pour another pint, lads – football never sleeps.

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