Tottenham Hotspur’s legend, Jimmy Greaves is dead. The football icon died at the age of 81-year-old.
The former England striker died few hours before Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur Premier League game scheduled to kick off at 16:30 today, September 19, 2021.
Jimmy Greaves started his football career in 1957 with the Chelsea football club. He made over 157 appearances in which he scored 125 goals for the London-based club between 1957 and 1961.
Afterward, he joined the Italian club, AC Milan for less than a season and won a Serie A title before he joined Tottenham Hotspur in 1961.
He had a very fruitful period at the London-based club between 1961 and 1970. During that period, Jimmy Greaves scored 220 goals in 321 appearances.
Before he left Tottenham Hotspur, Jimmy Greaves won two FA Cup, two FA Charity Shield, and one European Cup Winners Cup.
Afterward, Greaves moved to West Ham United, Brentwood, Barnet, and retired from professional football at Woodford Town in 1980.
He played for the Three Lions of England between 1959 and 1967. During that period, Jimmy Greaves played 57 times and scored 44 goals before he retired.
RIP Jimmy Greaves. A true legend and one of the great goalscorers. Thoughts are with his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/YYyLdeUHXi
— Harry Kane (@HKane) September 19, 2021
A statement from Tottenham Hotspur 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. Jimmy passed away at home in the early hours of this morning (Sunday 19 September), aged 81.
“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.
“A member of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad, Jimmy also scored 44 goals in his 57 senior international appearances, with 42 of those caps – and 28 goals – won while a Spurs player.”
A Tottenham legend. 🤍
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 19, 2021
A football legend. 💙 pic.twitter.com/DsY7fxApn8
A statement from England national team via Twitter read: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jimmy Greaves at the age of 81.
“Jimmy was part of our @FIFAWorldCup -winning squad and scored a remarkable 44 goals in 57 games for the #ThreeLions.
“All of our thoughts are with his family, friends, and former clubs.”
We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jimmy Greaves at the age of 81.
— England (@England) September 19, 2021
Jimmy was part of our @FIFAWorldCup-winning squad and scored a remarkable 44 goals in 57 games for the #ThreeLions.
All of our thoughts are with his family, friends and former clubs. pic.twitter.com/CetXiwD25l
