Jimmy
Greaves, the former England, Tottenham and Chelsea striker, has died at the
age of 81.
Greaves is Spurs' record goalscorer having netted 266 times in 379 games for
the north London club. His 37 league goals in the 1962/63 season remains a
club record.
He was also a member of England's World Cup-winning squad in 1966, and ended
his international career with 44 goals in just 57 caps.
He passed away at home in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Greaves began his career at Chelsea and scored on his debut - against Spurs
- in 1957.
He spent four years as a professional with the Blues, and scored 41 goals in
the First Division in 1960/61 - another club record.
Greaves then moved to AC Milan but struggled to settle in Italy - despite an
impressive scoring record - and swiftly returned to England with Tottenham
in 1961, where he scored a hat-trick on his debut against Blackpool.
The striker also found the net in Spurs' FA Cup final win in 1962 and their
European Cup Winners' Cup final victory - the first European trophy won by
an English club - in 1963. He won another FA Cup with Spurs in 1967.
Greaves then joined West Ham in 1970 before ended his professional career,
aged 31, a year later.
His 366 goals during his time in England and Italy made him the top scorer
in Europe's top five leagues until he was eclipsed by Cristiano Ronaldo
during the 2016/17 season.
Greaves' 44 England goals make him his country's fourth-highest scorer.
Although he did not play in the 1966 final win over West Germany, he finally
received a World Cup winners' medal in 2009 after a long campaign.
He was also awarded an MBE in 2020.
Greaves is survived by his wife Irene and four children, plus their 10
grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
England's goalscoring 'genius' who missed
their greatest triumph
By PA Media
To many he will be remembered as the bewildered, besuited figure on the
Wembley touchline as all around him erupted with joy in the moment of
England's 1966 World Cup win.
To others of a certain era, it is his jocular co-hosting of a Saturday
lunchtime television show which will last longest in the memory.
But for anyone inclined to scour the record books, Jimmy Greaves will go
down in history as quite simply one of the greatest out-and-out goalscorers
of his or any other generation.
Sir Geoff Hurst, who replaced Greaves in the 1966 team and scored a
hat-trick in the final triumph over West Germany, says Greaves was simply
the greatest English forward there has ever been.
"There have been some great players but forwards are judged on goals, and
there's nobody who could touch him," Hurst told the PA news agency in
February 2020.
"I am asked is there any animosity between Jimmy and I, because I took his
place? But not for one second.
"You hear the term genius, and it is the one word which applies to Jimmy."
Tributes for Greaves flooded in on Sunday morning following the news of his
death, with Spurs describing him as "the finest marksman this country has
ever seen".
The club added: "He was a natural goalscorer, always in the right place at
the right time to add the finishing touch to another well-worked move, while
he could also create his own goals, as he did on numerous occasions by
gliding past defenders and passing the ball into the back of the net.
"He possessed immaculate ball control, great balance and such composure in
front of goal that he rarely spurned an opportunity.
"Football will not see his like again."
Chelsea, where Greaves began his career, hailed him as the "finest
goalscorer" to play for the club.
"Chelsea Football Club mourns the loss of a truly remarkable player and one
of our own," a statement read. "Our thoughts and sympathies are with Jimmy
Greaves' family and friends at this time of their sad loss.
"Those who witnessed Greaves effortlessly breeze through a defence with the
ball at his feet, before passing it beyond the goalkeeper and into the back
of the net, universally acclaim him as the finest goalscorer to play for
Chelsea FC.
"They normally go further too, and describe the east Londoner as the best
finisher English football has ever seen."
A statement from the England team on Twitter read: "We are deeply saddened
to learn of the passing of Jimmy Greaves at the age of 81.
"Jimmy was part of our World Cup-winning squad and scored a remarkable 44
goals in 57 games for the Three Lions. All of our thoughts are with his
family, friends and former clubs."
England manager Gareth Southgate added: "Jimmy Greaves was someone who was
admired by all who love football, regardless of club allegiances.
"I was privileged to be able to meet Jimmy's family last year at Tottenham
Hotspur as the club marked his 80th birthday. My thoughts are with them and
I know the entire game will mourn his passing.
"Jimmy certainly deserves inclusion in any list of England's best players,
given his status as one of our greatest goalscorers and his part in our 1966
World Cup success.
"We will pay tribute to his memory at our home match with Hungary at Wembley
Stadium next month. His place in our history will never be forgotten."
England captain Harry Kane called Greaves "a true legend and one of the
great goalscorers". Jamie Carragher described him as "the best goalscorer we
have ever seen", while Rio Ferdinand said he was an "inspiration".
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