Tottenham and England legend Jimmy Greaves MBE, one of English football’s greatest-ever goal scorers, dies aged 81
Former Tottenham and Chelsea striker Jimmy Greaves MBE, known as one of the greatest goalscorers English football has ever produced, has died at the age of 81.
Spurs announced that their all-time record goalscorer and one of their greatest players in the club’s history passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Nicknamed ‘Greavsie’, he was the greatest goalscorer of his generation, scoring 447 goals across his club career including an unrivalled 220 for Tottenham, 132 strikes for fellow London club Chelsea and 44 goals in 57 games for England.
During his career at Tottenham, Greaves won the FA Cup twice during the 1960s and helped Spurs to the European Cup Winners’ Cup in the 1962-63 season. His contributions to football also earned him an MBE in December of last year, thanks to a Sportsmail campaign to award him the gong.
The former footballer, who was a member of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad, was in poor health since suffering a stroke in 2015, after which his speech was limited and required care four times a day.
He leaves behind wife Irene, four children Lynn, Mitzi, Danny and Andrew along with 10 grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Tottenham and football legend Jimmy Greaves has passed away at the age of 81
A statement from Tottenham read: ‘We are extremely saddened to learn of the passing of the great Jimmy Greaves, not just Tottenham Hotspur’s record goalscorer but the finest marksman this country has ever seen.
‘Throughout his wonderful playing career, Jimmy’s strike rate was phenomenal. His Spurs return was 266 goals in 379 appearances between 1961 and 1970 – 220 goals in 321 league games, 32 goals in 36 FA Cup ties, five in just eight League Cup ties and nine in 14 European matches.’
The statement ended: ‘Football will not see his like again.’
More to follow.
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