When Harry Kane stepped onto the stage to accept the Ballon d'Or, he made sure to acknowledge 35 influential people who helped shape his career.

More than 4,000 miles away, former Tottenham youth coach Chris Ramsey was on holiday in the Dominican Republic when his phone lit up, forcing him to watch the ceremony on YouTube.

In the South Wales coastal town of Penarth, Russell Slade was at home, unaware until a flood of messages arrived.

Slade, who gave a 17-year-old Kane his professional debut on loan at Leyton Orient in January 2011, told SunSport: "My phone was going berserk. I had 36 texts within five minutes!"

"He has not forgotten the support he had along the way by different coaches. That sums him up. Harry is grateful for the involvement that people have taken in his career and his progression throughout life."

Slade and former Orient coach Kevin Nugent used to travel to Spurs' training ground to scout young talent, quickly forming a link with then-development chief Tim Sherwood to bring Kane and Tom Carroll to Brisbane Road.

Slade recalled: "Their old training ground was near ours so rather than get a sandwich for lunch at Orient we loved popping there for a three-course meal and watch training and games."

Full Men's Ballon d'Or rankings

HERE'S who finished in the top 30 for the Men's Ballon d'Or award:

  • 1st. Harry Kane
  • 2nd. Kylian Mbappe
  • 3rd. Lamine Yamal
  • 4th. Rodri
  • 5th. Lionel Messi
  • 6th. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
  • 7th. Ousmane Dembélé
  • 8th. Erling Haaland
  • 9th. Michael Olise
  • 10th. Fabián Ruiz
  • 11th: Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid and England)
  • 12th: Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona and Spain)
  • 13th: Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco)
  • 14th: Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal)
  • 15th: Declan Rice (Arsenal and England)
  • 16th: Ferran Torres (Barcelona/Paris Saint-Germain and Spain)
  • 17th: Vinícius Junior (Real Madrid and Brazil)
  • 18th: Marc Cucurella (Chelsea/Real Madrid and Spain)
  • 19th: Joao Neves (Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal)
  • 20th: Willian Pacho (Paris Saint-Germain and Ecuador)
  • 21st: Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal and Brazil)
  • 22nd: Lautaro Martínez (Inter Milan and Argentina)
  • 23rd: Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal)
  • 24th: Luis Diaz (Bayern Munich and Colombia)
  • 25th: Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil)
  • 26th: Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich and France)
  • 27th: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United and Portugal)
  • 28th: Julián Quinones (Al Qadsiah and Mexico)
  • 29th: Sadio Mane (Al Nassr and Senegal)
  • 29th: William Saliba (Arsenal and France)

"Tim was keen to get some of the kids out on loan for experience so we took Harry and Tom."

Kane entered a mud-filled match at Rochdale in League One as a late substitute, marking the beginning of an extraordinary path.

A week later, on his full debut against Sheffield Wednesday at Brisbane Road, he netted his first professional goal, a moment Slade says set the entire trajectory in motion.

Slade reflected: "Starting against Wednesday and getting that first goal was the real catalyst. That settled him instantly and gave him the belief he belonged at that level.

"What stood out about Harry was his incredible dedication. He'd practice penalties for more than half an hour after training when everybody had finished.

"He didn't need a keeper. He'd just hone his run-up and exactly where he was going to put the ball.

"The keeper was irrelevant. He was going to put it where he had been working at with the right amount of power and direction.

"He had that calmness which he shows today in front of goal, picking his spot."

Kane recorded five goals from nine starts and nine substitute appearances for Orient.

His football intelligence at such a young age impressed Slade.

He noted: "He could lose you in a telephone box just to create half a yard for himself.

"Harry was so intelligent in finding his own space in the box. He'd know whether to take one touch or two and then finish.

"Not all 17, 18, 19-year-olds in the Premier League want to drop down to League One.

"There is a bit of snobbery sometimes, thinking 'I'm better than that'. But Harry wanted to get the experience and was a popular figure with all the lads."

Kane never forgot what Brisbane Road meant to him - he even sponsored Orient's shirts six years ago to help the club during a financial crunch.

Slade added: "That fantastic gesture sums him up. He hasn't forgotten where he came from. He is a special talent, but an even more special human being."

In the Caribbean, 64-year-old Ramsey watched Kane lift the Ballon d'Or trophy with immense pride.

Ramsey spent years developing Kane in Tottenham's academy from age 11 alongside John McDermott, Les Ferdinand and Tim Sherwood.

He said: "I'm on holiday and my phone went mad. Someone text me and mentioned I'd been given a shoutout. It was unbelievable.

"That's typical Harry. What a class man he is. To take the time in such a high-profile situation to name 35 people who supported his journey just shows his character.

"That made me even prouder of him than winning the award itself."

Ramsey, now professional development lead for the FA, recalled Kane's relentless work ethic as a youngster trying to break through at Spurs.

He said: "Harry was so diligent, technical and always gave himself a chance.

"His work ethic was incredible. He had that mental ability early on and the work ethic to back it up.

"He had to overcome set-backs on loan but he used those to fulfil his potential."

Ramsey believes Kane's loan spells - also at Millwall, Leicester and Norwich - battling physical defenders in lower leagues turned a promising youngster into a powerhouse leader.

He added: "I remember him coming back from loans, playing against guys like Marlon King and teams like Sunderland and Middlesbrough.

"That was when he changed skill-wise and physically. That's what made him into the leader he is now."

Both Slade and Ramsey are convinced Kane's brain and technical purity will keep him at the summit for years to come.

Slade said: "I don't think it's anywhere near over for him, even though he is 33. The way he plays and how he works, he's still got lots more time.

"Lionel Messi is a great example, still going at 39. The way Harry plays, they are in the same category.

"Messi finally won the World Cup with Argentina aged 35, I wouldn't bet against Harry still landing a major trophy for England. He'll definitely win more in club football."