The teenager was on the bench as Ange Postecoglou steered the Premier League giants to silverware
He didn’t even get on the pitch at the San Mames Stadium. But in Bilbao seven months ago, Mikey Moore managed to taste Europa League success.
And it gave the Rangers winger an insatiable appetite for more. He was part of Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs squad who defeated Manchester United 1-0 to secure silverware.
Moore was an unused sub for the London club as Brennan Johnson’s goal sealed the win. The scenes in Spain at full-time, as well as the open-top bus tour in Tottenham on the team’s return, made a lasting impression on the youngster.
It allowed him to see and feel what winning a major trophy meant to supporters. And now that he’s at Ibrox, he’d love to experience it again.
As things stand, that might seem a long way off for Rangers fans, especially after their defeat to Hearts at Tynecastle on Sunday. Danny Rohl’s side are currently 12 points off the pace at the top of the Premiership table and languishing in fourth spot.
But Moore is refusing to give up hope, with that glory night in Bilbao still fresh in the memory.
The 18-year-old said: “That was a special night. I didn’t get on the pitch but I played a bit coming up to the final.
“I felt like a massive part of it. Even though I didn’t get to play in the final, I got to see the mark of what that game took to win – and what it meant to everyone. That was huge for me because now I have that experience.
“I know what it means to play in a game with that pressure. I know how all the Spurs boys were feeling on the day and in the lead up to it. Seeing all the fans in Bilbao, I could see how much it meant to everyone.
“I just hope that we can recreate a game like that here this year. After what happened last weekend, we’re in this position.
“But if we keep working, I want to be involved in those types of games again. It’s those nights after it as well, they’re the best you can remember.
“All the boys have said, you might only get one of them. But you want to have more than one because they’re the best you’ll ever experience.”
It’s been difficult for Rangers fans to get excited this season after a miserable start to the campaign.
They lost the Premier Sports Cup semi-final to Celtic and have effectively crashed out of both the Champions League and Europa League.
In the Premiership, they’re in a fight to finish in the top three, with the Scottish Cup the only other trophy left to go for.
But Moore is convinced that if everyone in Rohl’s squad pulls together, they CAN still achieve something.
He said: “There will be a lot of talk after the weekend.
“For me personally, we needed to win that game (v Hearts). It was an opportunity missed.
“But we’ve now got room to work. We’ve got big games coming up where we can start to close the gap again.
“Every three points now is massive. I think we need leaders and people to drive it.
“I think I can do that with my performances on the pitch. Maybe not as a massive talker.
“But each player can drive performances. We need to deal with the pressure, be up for it mentally and give our all in every game.
“The fans here are some of the most passionate I’ve ever seen.
“When it’s not going well, they have a right to have the opinions they have and demand more from us.
“It’s up to us to react to that.
“Because when it’s going well, I can’t think of anything better because the fans here are some of the best I’ve seen.
“We need to use that as an extra man, thrive off it and use it to our advantage.”
Irrespective of how Rangers’ campaign ends, Moore believes it will be a huge season for his development.
On the pitch, he’s been an integral player for a big club in a competitive league.
And off it, he’s matured as a person having to live away from home for the first time.
Even if his culinary skills aren’t quite up to scratch yet.
Moore said: “It’s been a massive learning year for me at Spurs and Rangers.
“It started tough here but it’s gotten better lately. So for me, personally, mentally, physically and technically – it’s been big for me. I’ve learned so much.
“This club has been huge for my development. It’s a massive club.
“Before I came, I knew exactly what kind of pressure I was coming into, so I was prepared for it.
“At first, it was a case of: ‘Oh, I thought I knew, now I need time to adapt’.
“But it’s been a top year for me, my first full year in football.
“This is also the first time I’ve ever moved away from home.
“Without my mum and dad at home, I’ve had to try and cook for myself, which has been a disaster!
“But I’ve tried my best. Off the pitch, it’s been just as big a learning curve as on it.”