Tottenham Hotspur legend Ledley King admitted his emotions got the better of him as he stepped out on to the pitch at White Hart Lane for the final time in front of 35,000 fans.

A host of club legends turned out to pay tribute to the former Spurs captain, who led out a guest XI against a first team line-up at his long-awaited testimonial.

A tearful King addressed the capacity crowd at the end of the game and, speaking afterwards, he admitted it was hard to keep his emotions in check throughout the evening.

He said: “From the first whistle to the last it was unbelievable. It was emotional playing on that pitch for the last time - I don’t think it will happen again. I tried to hold my feelings in but right at the end there it caught me a little bit.

“I tried to hold it together but it was emotional to see the fans after all the support they have given me throughout my career.”

King’s team ran out 6-3 winners in the light-hearted exhibition match, which raised money for the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation Skill Project, The Willow Foundation and Bowel Cancer Awareness UK.

And as the curtain was drawn on his Tottenham playing career, King had a chance to speak about his own future and a possible move into coaching, something he plans to work on after joining the first team on their pre-season tour as a club ambassador.

He said: “I’m in love with football and I still love the game and I want to become involved with a different side of it.

“Coaching is something I want to do so it is important I get the badges.

“I have worked with some of the young players in the past doing my coaching badges and there are some really good talented players, though it is harder for me to chase them around now. Hopefully what I have done can give them a bit of knowledge.”