Ex-England football great Greaves dies age 81 | Page 2 | Sunday Observer

Ex-England football great Greaves dies age 81

26 September, 2021
Jimmy Greaves
Jimmy Greaves

One of England’s greatest strikers, Jimmy Greaves, died at the age of 81.

Described in football circles as a legend, Greaves played for Tottenham where he became their all-time leading goal scorer with 266 while he also scored 44 goals playing for England.

He was part of the 1966 World Cup winning England squad but could not take the field for the final.

Greaves is Tottenham’s all-time leading goal scorer with 266 goals and also scored 44 goals in 57 games for England, as he played for Chelsea, AC Milan and West Ham in his storied career.

The London native is the highest-scoring player in the top flight of English football, with 357 goals to his name.

He won the Serie A with AC Milan, plus two FA Cups and a UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup with Tottenham. He was also part of the England squad which won the World Cup in 1966.

He was adored for his clinical finishing during his playing career.

Greaves had struggled with his health in recent years and it was announced he passed away in his home.

Tottenham released the following statement as they paid tribute to Jimmy Greaves.

Tottenham led the tributes to Greaves, as their top goal scorer in history will always be a legend at White Hart Lane.

“We are extremely saddened to learn of the passing of the great Jimmy Greaves, not just Tottenham Hotspur’s record goal-scorer 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 37 league goals that he netted in the 1962/63 season remains to this day our record by any player in a single season,” Tottenham said in a tribute.

He was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours list at the end of 2020.

Chelsea, where Greaves made his name and was a product of their youth team, also saluted his greatness. (NBC Sports)

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