Eliud Kipchoge Speaks on Special Bond With Victor Wanyama in Rare Tribute: 'We Are Real Friends'

Former marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge has paid a glowing tribute to Tottenham Hotspur cult hero Victor Wanyama.

Victor Wanyama called time on his career on April 3 after playing for clubs including Celtic, Southampton, and CF Montréal.

The five-time Berlin Marathon champion also admitted he is deeply concerned about Tottenham Hotspur's fight for Premier League survival.

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Eliud Kipchoge has spoken warmly about his close relationship with Victor Wanyama following the midfielder’s retirement, describing a strong personal bond between the two Kenyan sporting icons.

The two-time Olympic marathon champion recalled having spent time with Victor Wanyama during his playing days in England, including attending matches while he was at a Premier League club, where he observed the Kenyan international competing at the highest level of European football.

Kipchoge, who visited the club in 2018 and 2019 while Victor Wanyama was still playing in North London, has remained a loyal fan since the midfielder's departure in 2020.

The four-time London Marathon champion expressed deep admiration for Victor Wanyama’s achievements and influence in Kenyan sport, noting that he is widely regarded as one of the country’s most accomplished footballers.

He further suggested that, now that Victor Wanyama has ended his playing career, he is well-positioned to play a key role in the development of football in Kenya by sharing his experience, mentoring younger players, and helping to elevate the standards of the game for the next generation. At the moment, the former midfielder is working towards his UEFA A License.

"We are real friends. Victor is a huge footballer in Kenya," Eliud Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic gold medallist, told ESPN. "I visited him when he was at Tottenham twice. The second time, he was playing against Ajax... I believe that [in his post-playing career], he's going to promote football in Kenya and bring a lot more knowledge on football to the next generation."

Eliud Kipchoge expressed continued support for Tottenham Hotspur but acknowledged the club’s difficult Premier League form, noting uncertainty over whether they will avoid relegation amid their struggles near the bottom of the table.

"I'm still a Tottenham fan," Eliud Kipchoge added. "We're having a rough time. We're ranked in the [Premier League] bottom three and I don't know whether we'll survive relegation or not."

Spurs currently sit 18th in the league table, two points from safety with only six matches remaining. The club's turbulent season has seen Roberto de Zerbi become their fourth head coach in a year, following the surprise dismissal of Ange Postecoglou in June 2025 and short-lived tenures for Thomas Frank and Igor Tudor. The turmoil has left the reigning UEFA Europa League champions battling to stay in the top flight.

Despite the grim outlook, Kipchoge, known as 'The Philosopher' for his thoughtful perspective, remains philosophical about his team's struggles. "All in all, it's football," he reflected. "We always say football is like life: we don't celebrate for 90 minutes, so we'll see."

At 41, Kipchoge is embarking on a new challenge, a two-year global tour where he will run marathons on seven continents to raise funds for conservation and education.

The tour begins with the Cape Town Marathon on May 24, followed by races in Porto Alegre and Melbourne. This marks a shift for the athlete, whose recent career has focused on the Abbott World Marathon Majors.