His name rarely shows up on the scoresheet. He does not score a lot of goals nor is he the creator for most of Tottenham's attacks. But no player is more essential to Spurs' success than Scott Parker. The driving force in the center of Harry Redknapp's midfield, Parker has come into his own since arriving at White Hart Lane earlier this season. He acts as the link between the back four and fellow midfielders such as Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon and Rafael van der Vaart and his steady and composed play has been at the heart of Spurs' strong showing in the Premier League.
After being selected as the Football Writers Association's Player of the Year for the 2010-11 season when he played for West Ham, Parker claimed a spot in Professional Footballers' Association's Premier League Team of the Year for the 2011-12 campaign, where he was joined by club teammates Gareth Bale and Kyle Walker.
That form has also caught the eye of the England coaching staff, with caretaker manager Stuart Pearce naming him as his captain for the 3-2 home loss to the Netherlands in late February. Despite owning just 11 caps since making his England debut in 2003, Parker is expected to retain the England captaincy ahead of the start of this summer's European Championships.
The 31-year-old began his career with Charlton at the age of 17 and broke through during the 200-01 season, helping the Addicks finish in the top half of the Premier League standings. After appearing in nearly 150 games for the club, Parker was sold to Chelsea, but he struggled to break through to the first team.
Parker joined Newcastle prior to the start of the 2005-06 season and spent two years in the Northeast, re-discovering his form while helping them earn a place in the UEFA Cup (now Europa League).
He joined West Ham in June 2007 and quickly became a fan favorite, winning three straight Hammer of the Year awards as the club's top performer. However, he was unable to save West Ham from relegation prior to the start of las season, paving the way for his move to Tottenham this season.
