Harry Kane's Ballon d'Or win is a 'Cinderella story', says Tim Sherwood
Harry Kane has become the first English winner of the Ballon d'Or in 25 years, and his former Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood has described the achievement as a "Cinderella story" never seen before in football. Kane, now at Bayern Munich, was crowned the world's best player at 33, 15 years after his senior debut on loan at Leyton Orient.
- Winner: Harry Kane, Bayern Munich and England
- Milestone: First English Ballon d'Or winner in 25 years, fifth in history
- Age: 33, 15 years after senior debut at Leyton Orient
- Former boss: Tim Sherwood gave Kane his first Premier League start
- Key quote: Sherwood calls it a "Cinderella story we've never seen before"
What was said
"This is a Cinderella story we've never seen before."
"He keeps breaking records, and I keep thinking, 'Are we talking about the same kid?'"
"There was always a chance, because he felt like there was no ceiling - he would always just break through and go further."
"I mean, not even Harry would say he could believe it, I would suggest."
"I think we have to highlight his journey."
"Even when we go back to Michael (Owen), he was a superstar as a kid, and he got the opportunities at a very young age at Liverpool, which is a giant football club. Kane came through the hard way, really. He was a player who wasn't universally loved."
"He's not like a Max Dowman, for instance, who is a superstar at 16 years of age. He (Kane) struggled to get some game time and to get a manager to really, really buy into what he had."
"My journey wasn't straightforward; I didn't go straight to the top, I had to experience a lot of loan moves and fight my way to get to where I am now."
"I hear a lot of people talking about failed loans, but we never felt like that because we felt that him playing in U21 football was a waste of time. They were really good loans, and those loans were the reason why we've got a player like that."
"He wasn't getting anywhere unfortunately. He wasn't around the first-team squad, so I suppose it's a sliding doors moment that I managed to take over until the end of the season and I managed to give him a stage where he could perform."
"It's a move he needed to make. I thought he might be obsessed with the Premier League goalscoring record, but he's obsessed with goalscoring records, not just that one. But it also gives him a great chance of winning the Champions League and being involved in Ballon d'Or selections. There's no way Harry Kane could've won the Ballon d'Or if he was playing for Tottenham."
"The boy loves Tottenham. He wanted to win there, but he was winning individual accolades at Spurs, and it wasn't enough for him. When we all grow up, we all want to be footballers, and we don't want to be footballers because we want to be rich. There are possibly some players like that now, but that certainly wasn't his motivation. He wanted to go to a team that could win, and he picked Bayern, and we have to say it's been a good choice."
"He's a 100 per cent team man. If I told you he would rather win the Champions League and the Bundesliga title than the Ballon d'Or for himself, that would be the truth. Not every player would say that, but I genuinely believe that that is the measure of the man and that's what you're talking about, and that's why he's such a dream to manage. The work rate and the example he shows to any young kids coming through, and to genuinely go around the houses to try and make it, and he certainly made it."
"I would still always put Bobby Charlton as the greatest England player ever. He's won the World Cup. He's won the Champions League with Manchester United. As a midfield player, he was the leading goalscorer for a very long time for both United and England. I'd still always say Bobby Charlton, because right now this England team, even though it's been a golden period for us, Harry Kane and the others still haven't got their hands on a trophy, and that's what Bobby Charlton did."
"I believe he will come back for that individual accolade to be the Premier League top scorer in the future, maybe in a couple of years' time. He will only come back to a team he believes can win. At the moment you're looking at Man City with the troubles they've got, so Liverpool possibly, that could be a chance for him. Tottenham could be in the frame if they start progressing. Manchester United could be in the frame, but they've got a long way to go to prove that they can win anything as well. I'm not sure it's ever going to be Chelsea or Arsenal because of the Tottenham connection. So, it's on a positive note for Tottenham fans if they can start p"
Sherwood's comments paint a picture of a player who had to scrap for every opportunity, while Carragher's praise of Kane's Bayern move underlines the modern reality that global recognition often requires leaving the Premier League. Both agree that Kane's legacy is secure, but the debate over his place among England's greats continues.
The numbers
- Ballon d'Or wins: Kane is the fifth English winner in history.
- Last English winner: Michael Owen in 2001, aged 22.
- Kane's age at win: 33.
- Senior debut: 15 years ago, on loan at Leyton Orient in League One.
- Loan spells: Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich, Leicester.
- First Premier League start: April 2014, scored opener in 5-1 win over Sunderland.
- Goals for club and country: Nearly 550.
- Last season's goals: 73 in all competitions (61 for Bayern).
- Bundesliga records: Fastest to 100 goals, most goals in first 100 appearances, fastest to 100 goal contributions.
- Premier League record: Alan Shearer's 260 goals; Kane is 47 behind.
- England caps: Needs one more to become most-capped player.
Analysis: Why Kane's journey makes the Ballon d'Or sweeter
Harry Kane's path to the Ballon d'Or is a rarity in modern football. Unlike Michael Owen, who burst onto the scene at Liverpool as a teenager, Kane had to prove himself in the lower leagues. His loan spells at Leyton Orient, Millwall, Norwich and Leicester were seen by some as failed, but Sherwood insists they were crucial. Those experiences hardened Kane, taught him the physicality of senior football, and instilled the work ethic that has defined his career.
The move to Bayern Munich in 2023 was the catalyst for global recognition. At Tottenham, Kane was a prolific goalscorer but trophyless. Carragher argues that without the Bundesliga title and the platform of Champions League football, Kane would never have been considered for the Ballon d'Or. His 61 goals for Bayern last season, the most by any player in Europe's top five leagues since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2014/15, made him an undeniable choice. Kane's all-round game has also evolved; his assist for Alphonso Davies against Arsenal in the Champions League showcased his playmaking ability, a skill that earned him the Premier League Playmaker of the Season award in 2020/21.
At 33, Kane shows no signs of slowing down. He continues to break records in Germany, and his ambition to return to the Premier League one day remains. Sherwood believes a return is possible, but only to a team capable of winning. The romantic option would be Tottenham, but with the club's current progress uncertain, a move to Liverpool or Manchester United could be more realistic. Whatever happens, Kane's legacy as one of England's greatest players is assured, even if Carragher still ranks Bobby Charlton above him.
Talking points
- Is Harry Kane England's greatest-ever player, or does Bobby Charlton's World Cup win and Champions League triumph keep him ahead?
- Should Kane return to the Premier League to chase Alan Shearer's record, and if so, which club is the best fit?
- Was leaving Tottenham the making of Kane's Ballon d'Or, or could he have won it at Spurs with a stronger squad?
- Do loan spells at lower-league clubs benefit young players more than U21 football, as Sherwood suggests?
What happens next
Kane will continue to lead the line for Bayern Munich as they defend their Bundesliga title and push for Champions League glory. He is also one cap away from becoming England's most-capped player, a milestone he could reach in the next international window. Meanwhile, speculation about a Premier League return will persist, with Tottenham fans hoping their former hero eventually comes home.
Frequently asked questions
How old was Harry Kane when he won the Ballon d'Or?
Harry Kane was 33 when he won the Ballon d'Or, 15 years after his senior debut on loan at Leyton Orient.
Who was the last English player to win the Ballon d'Or before Kane?
Michael Owen was the last English winner, claiming the award in 2001 aged 22, four years after his senior debut at Liverpool.
Could Harry Kane return to Tottenham?
Tim Sherwood believes Kane will return to the Premier League to chase Alan Shearer's goalscoring record, and Tottenham could be in the frame if they start progressing.
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