By Gerry Cox

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Tottenham Hotspur, the first British club to win a European trophy, and the first winners of the UEFA Cup in 1972, make a long-overdue return to European soccer on Thursday, hoping for a long run in the UEFA Cup.

Spurs, who won the European Cup Winner's Cup in 1963 and the UEFA Cup in 1972 and 1974, last played in Europe seven seasons ago and their years in exile are ending with a testing first round tie against Slavia Prague for a place in the UEFA Cup group stage.

The days when Spurs ruled in Europe have long gone and they have been overtaken by their north London rivals Arsenal both at home and abroad.

Arsenal even pipped them to England's fourth Champions League spot on the final day of last season, after Spurs had been in fourth place for five months.

So it has been a long road back for Spurs, and manager Martin Jol is only too aware just how desperately the club wants to re-establish itself among Europe's elite again, starting with the first leg tie in Prague on Thursday.

"We know about the traditions of Slavia Prague, but we have a great tradition in Europe too, although it is longer ago.

"That is one of the reasons why we are looking forward to European football after a break of seven years."

Club captain Ledley King, who returned recently from a five-month injury spell that meant he missed the World Cup, added: "A club like Tottenham should be in Europe season in, season out.

"I remember sitting on the bench against Kaiserslautern seven years ago, thinking it would happen regularly, but I didn't realise it would take so long to get back."

But King says Tottenham's players, most of whom have no, or limited European experience, are highly motivated for this campaign, which they are hoping can end with them emulating Middlesbrough's march to the UEFA Cup final last season -- and going one better by winning it.

"We saw what Middlesbrough did last year and if we play as well as we know we can, hopefully we can go all the way."

POOR START

Like Slavia Prague, Spurs have not had a good start to the season, with three defeats from four games in the Premiership, but Jol thinks a good result in Prague would give his side a boost in confidence.

He is still trying to find his best team after the club sold Michael Carrick to Manchester United for 18.6 million pounds, and bringing in several new players, including Dimitar Berbatov, Didier Zakora and Pascal Chimbonda.

"The new players are still settling in and we are trying to find the right blend in midfield," Jol said.

He may, however, have Berbatov and young England winger Aaron Lennon back after missing Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Manchester United.

Berbatov had a groin injury from playing for Bulgaria last week, and Lennon was in danger of needing an operation on a torn knee cartilage, putting him out of action for several weeks.

But both players trained at the Evzen Rosicky Stadium ahead of Thursday's clash and have a chance of playing.