THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
LONDON — Tottenham will head to the United States in preseason for the second time in three years after the English Premier League club said it will play the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls in July.
Tottenham, which is fourth in the Premier League with nine games remaining, said Thursday it will play the Galaxy and former Spurs striker Robbie Keane at the Home Depot Center on July 24.
It then faces the Red Bulls in the inaugural New York Invitational Cup a week later.
Spurs played Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes and the Red Bulls in 2010 on its last visit to the United States.
"The facilities will be first class and the opposition will provide a great test for the squad," Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said. "We know how good the MLS sides are from two summers ago when we faced San Jose Earthquakes and New York Red Bulls. We can expect another tough encounter when we face the Red Bulls again this time.
"Playing the winners of the MLS Cup in LA Galaxy will provide a real challenge too. Any team that includes proven international performers like Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan and David Beckham are sure to be top drawer."
Tottenham shares links with the Galaxy through the Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Galaxy. Spurs and AEG joined in a failed bid to move into London’s Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.
Beckham trained with Tottenham last year but never played for the north London club, with whom he began his career as a trainee before joining Manchester United. The Galaxy was reluctant to let him play on loan in Europe during the MLS off-season after he damaged his Achilles tendon at AC Milan the previous year.
"There is a strong relationship between the two clubs and we are looking forward to the chance to renew old friendships," Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said.
The Galaxy hosted Boca Juniors, Milan and Manchester City in previous seasons.
Levy said his club, which has not won the English league title since 1961 but is in contention for a return the Champions League after playing in it for the first time last season, has many American fans.
"The club is proud of its reputation for playing entertaining football and we believe this attacking style is responsible for the significant rise in the number of fans across the USA in recent years," Levy said. "This tour presents us with a great opportunity to give something back to those fans and also introduce new supporters to the Spurs way of playing football."
Tottenham’s current squad includes Netherlands forward Rafael van der Vaart, Croatia playmaker Luka Modric, Wales winger Gareth Bale and former United States goalkeeper Brad Friedel.
The Red Bulls, who have previously hosted overseas sides including Brazil’s Santos, England’s Manchester City and Italy’s Juventus at Red Bull Arena, said the match will be included in fans’ season tickets.
"Tottenham has been one of the top EPL teams over the past several years," New York Red Bulls President of Business Operations Chris Heck said. "We are also excited to bring an elite international club as a reward for our season ticket-holders."