Premier League – Jimmy Greaves, world champion with England in 1966 and legend of Tottenham is dead

A legend of English football is gone. Tottenham announced on Sunday the death of one of the greatest players in its history, Jimmy Greaves, at the age of 81. The former striker was also crowned world champion with England in 1966. « We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the great Jimmy Greaves. We offer our deepest condolences to Jimmy’s family and friends« , wrote the London club on his account Twitter.

The victim of a stroke that forced him to move in a wheelchair and made it very difficult for him to speak, Greaves died at his home, the club said on its website. Already prolific goalscorer with Chelsea at the start of his career, with 132 goals from 1957 to 1961, he joined Tottenham in 1961, scoring 266 goals in 379 matches, a total never exceeded. He is also the most prolific goalscorer in history in the English top flight, with 356 goals scored.

Tribute during Tottenham – Chelsea

« He was a natural goalscorer, always in the right place at the right time (…) but he could also create his own goals, as he often did, by eliminating defenders« , with « his impeccable ball control, great balance and lucidity in front of goal which rarely made him miss an opportunity« , greeted the Spurs. Jimmy Greaves »was not only the goal scoring record holder with Tottenham, but the best finisher this country has ever known« Chance of the calendar, Tottenham and Chelsea face each other on Sunday for the fifth day of the Premier League and a tribute will be paid to the player.

With the England team, he had scored 44 goals in 57 caps, a mark improved by Wayne Rooney (53), Bobby Charlton (49) and Gary Lineker (48), but with 120, 106 and 80 caps, respectively. Holder in group at the 1966 World Cup in England, he lost his place following a tibia injury which required 14 stitches for the benefit of Bobby Hurst, who then became the hero of the final against Germany, with a tripled (4-2, after prol).

Only the 11 players on the pitch at the final whistle had received a medal but he ended up receiving one too in 2009. He had auctioned it in 2014. After his retirement from sports, Jimmy Greaves had become a figure. popular television football shows, including between 1985 and 1992 « Saint and Greavesie » with former Reds Ian Saint-John on ITV.