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.
He passed away at home in the early hours of Sunday morning, September 19.
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.’
Greaves began his career with Chelsea before spells at AC Milan, Spurs, and West Ham.
He scored 44 goals in 57 games for England and was a member of the 1966 World Cup-winning squad.
Greaves scored 266 goals in 379 matches for Tottenham and holds the record for the most goals in a season for Spurs with 37 in 1962-63.
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.
He leaves behind his wife Irene, four children Lynn, Mitzi, Danny and Andrew along with 10 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
