"I don't like defenders who hold the shirts of other players. The only defender who doesn't do that and sometimes still gets the ball off my feet easily is Ledley King. He will get the ball off you without you even noticing. He plays without any contact yet is somehow still strong and gets the ball without doing any fouls," marveled Thierry Henry, once the most lethal striker on the planet.

Such was the degree of widespread admiration summed up in this unvarnished assessment of a one-of-a-kind footballer, that more than a decade after the quote made the rounds, King is still frequently singled out by fans and pundits as one of the best defenders the world has ever seen. So much has changed in the fast-paced football industry, yet King's name remains synonymous with all the most cherished footballing attributes: bedrock, legend, icon, hero, a paragon of virtue and loyalty.

When sitting down to talk with King, who has served as a team ambassador for Tottenham since a chronic knee condition forced an end to his 13-year White Hart Lane career in 2012, you get an immediate feeling that you are in the presence of incredible humility and application. It's a little like watching him play football, where his acumen and commitment are obvious, but King also arrives at the deluxe Four Seasons Hotel in Shanghai with a cheery attitude. He is unfussy but fresh looking, and interested in an engaging conversation rather than a routine interview.

"I really enjoy coming to China," King reflected on the last few days, his wide grin matching his words. "You know the game has become so big now and we have fans all over the world. So it's important for us to come and give something back to our supporters, who don't often get the chance to watch their team play live."

Chinese Tottenham fans did seize on that rare chance and turned out in full force at the Hongkou Football Stadium on Thursday night for their International Champions Cup fixture against Manchester United. Roared on by an ardent contingent of white-shirted masses, Spurs' Brazilian star Lucas Moura cancelled out Anthony Martial's early opener, but Angel Gomes' first senior goal for United ensured Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's perfect pre-season record would continue.

Though the Lilywhites ended their tour of Asia with a 2-1 defeat, the feel-good factor generated in China showed no signs of abating. In fact for Tottenham, the result could be the least important thing. "We are still amazed by the great reception we have had in Shanghai, the supporters lined outside the hotel, and everything that made us feel at home," King beamed. 

"We are not just coming to play a game and leave. We are trying to build up a relationship with the Chinese people. For a lot of Spurs players, this is their first time to visit China and it is a great experience. The sweltering heat is probably the most difficult part for the players. But just as I said, it's an experience."

"People are so friendly. And from my experience, the young person here are very passionate about football. They want to improve themselves and are eager to learn. So that's really great."

Despite a national campaign to spur on children to have a crack at playing football from a young age, China still lags far behind the world's leading powers, and the former long-serving Tottenham captain admitted it's not all roses and plain sailing when it comes to football development, and passion is not enough.

"I think the biggest problem is the Chinese kids are not spending enough time playing the sport. Many of them just play once a week. Back home [in England] and especially in Europe as well, kids are playing everyday. It makes a big difference to their development. The youngsters need to play a bit more."

King joined Tottenham at the age of 14 in 1995, but, unlike many other star players that have graced the north London club in their history, he never hurt the Spurs faithfuls by orchestrating an acrimonious exit despite ever-present temptation and opportunities to make more money and clinch more titles.

"Coaches are very important. It's great for me to have coaches believe in me and help develop me into the player that I become. I was also in a club that want players to improve and progress into the first team, which is very vital for me to keep growing."

King nodded emphatically at the suggestion China is on the right path by investing heavily into their youth academy and domestic leagues. "I know the Chinese Super League (CSL) has spent a huge amount of money to attract star players who is still in their primes. That's in sharp contrast to America's Major League Soccer (MLS), where big names only go there at the back end of their career."

"Those big-money moves in the CSL will help young players develop because they could see and learn from the superstars who they wish to be one day. And that's how the strategy starts to work. If one has dreams and has someone to looks up to, a stunning progress will be made in terms of grass-roots football."

It's worth noting that it's not all one-way traffic here – the CSL did snap up a bunch of foreign imports from top European leagues, it's also the case that some of the CSL's finest products have found their way into leading clubs in Europe, with former CSL golden boot winner Wu Lei being a shining example.

The 27-year-old, who swapped Shanghai SIPG for Espanyol earlier this year, became the first Chinese player to score a goal in La Liga last season and played a crucial role in helping the Spanish side secure a Europa League spot for the first time in 12 years.

When asked to offer some words of wisdom for Wu and any other Chinese player who dreams of thriving in top European clubs, King instantly brightened up. "I used to play with players who came from different countries. And to the best of my knowledge, communication is an essential step to establish a foothold in a foreign country."

"Obviously it helps a lot if you can overcome the language barrier as soon as possible. To be able to communicate with your teammates and understand what the manager says is the most important thing for you to feel comfortable in a competitive environment."    

While Wu's initial success in Spain is cause for optimism, there is no doubt that China still has a long way to go and it faces a race against time to instigate its emergence at the top of the game. In 2015, the exceptionally ambitious country unveiled a grand plan to become a "world football superpower" by 2050. The target is demonstrably bold but is it achievable？

"Yes," King said, without hesitation. "China is powerful country. When it puts its mind to do something, it produces fast results. I think it can be done. The next generation of players will be in full bloom in the next 25 to 30 years. There's no reason why they cannot reach the goal."

"China has the right infrastructure and the money, as well as many great players who are willing to come to help with the development of the Chinese football. I think it is something that a lot of other countries should be look out for and surely China will be a force to be reckoned with."

King can be pleasant company but, essentially, he is a serious man. Every question is contemplated thoughtfully, every response is assured. That said, it is not difficult to sense the hidden frustration in King that Tottenham had been outplayed by Liverpool on the biggest night in their history when we segued into discussing the European football and that intense Champions League final almost two months ago. 

"Everyone was disappointed that we didn't win the game," he said with a deep low-pitched tone. "But we have to look at the brighter side and admit what a great season the club have had. Just think about the teams that we had to beat to reach the final."

"Meanwhile, we still managed to finish in the top four in the Premier League which is no easy feat. We see the top teams that missed out this year and it shows how difficult [to secure the 4th spot]. And of course, moving to a new stadium during the season further complicated matters. In general, a lot happened last season, but the team performed consistently well."

In an era when billions of funds were splashed in a transfer market replete with insatiable agents and players, Tottenham's 517-day transfer drought were bucking the global trend and the club's capability to keep pace with their well-heeled rivals during that fallow period was in itself truly remarkable. And King couldn't speak highly enough of Mauricio Pochettino, the architect behind that phenomenal success.

"Mauricio is one of the best managers around. He's done great in pushing players to another level. Every squad member is making progress and become a better player under him. He loves developing young players which is very important for our club in current situation. It is a partnership that works pretty well for the club and obviously he is a perfect fit for Tottenham."

Another sparkling part of Tottenham storylines last season concerned Son Heung-min, who has had a direct hand in 24 goals in his last 36 appearances and has become one of the Europe's most potent attacking sensations.

The affable Asian heart-throb, who is the undoubted center of attention on Tottenham's pre-season tour this summer, has been mobbed by screaming fans ever since the club landed in Shanghai on Tuesday. Pochettino even described Son as the "David Beckham" of Asia after witnessing firsthand the South Korean's explosive popularity in Singapore and later in China.

"Sonny is a fan favorite," King enthused. "I think he is loved by everyone anywhere in the world, even by supporters from rival teams as well. He plays the game always with a smile on his face, full of energy and passion. He is very talented and extremely skillful. Now he has become a big big part of the squad."

"During the early part of last season, he had to go away with the [South Korea] national team, taking part in Asian Games and Asian Cup. I think he didn't get much rest since the last international tournament -- the [2018] World Cup. So the fantastic season he has had shows how hard he works, how fit and dedicated he is. We look forward to have another big season with him."

There is a contagious enthusiasm when listening to what King had to say about Son's astounding fitness level throughout the physically draining campaign, but beneath that enthusiasm lurks an undercurrent of discontent over his own misfortunes. You cannot help but feel devastated that King never get himself back to full fitness during the latter stages of his playing career.

Such was King's unparalleled quality and strength of character, the injury-troubled fighter performed superbly at the heart of Tottenham's backline despite being unable to train with the rest of the team. It's genuinely sad that King had to bow out with such unfulfilled potential, what might have been had he stayed fit?

Footballers are not usually comfortable discussing physical struggle and emotional vulnerability, but King is bluntly candid. "I had a knee problem for the last five years of my career. I couldn't train so I just play the games. But because I wasn't training, it's hard to replicate running, jumping and twisting. My problem then became muscle injuries, including the hamstring, the groin..."

"So after being out for a while, I have to come back from another injury. It's difficult to keep coming back after setbacks after setbacks. I always thought that if I feel I could help my team, I will continue to play. When the time comes that I don't feel I could help the team, I will retire. I realized the time had come when I could't move the way I wanted to and play the way I wanted to. And I didn't have the same impact on the pitch. So I decided to retire." 

Stoicism is not necessarily the byproduct of suffering career-ending injuries but, ruminating on the trials and tribulations of untold setbacks, King sounded as reflective as he is accepting.

"Now I just love to spend more time with my family and sometimes, me and my friends would do some simple things. I don't play much sport anymore because of my knee. It will become uncomfortable and sore if I play. But being able to walk around is fine. As long as I can look after it and beware of it, the knee should be OK."