The world of football mourns Jimmy Greaves, former Tottenham center forward and 1966 world champion. The forward, one of the most prolific in the history of the England national team, passed away at the age of 81. Only Wayne Rooney, Bobby Charlton and Gary Lineker scored more with the Three Lions jersey.
Greaves has a place of honor in the history of English football, being one of the Boys of ‘66, the only English national team to have won a World Cup, the home one in 1966. In that competition he played as a starter the three games of the day phase, then an injury forced him to miss the knockout phase, including the Wembley final against West Germany.
Greaves had started his career with Chelsea before moving to Milan (in the 1961-’62 season), Spurs and West Ham. Among the numerous records that the London striker holds, that of the highest number of goals (357) in the history of the First Division, the then Premier League, the highest number of seasonal centers of the with Chelsea (41 in 1960-61), and Tottenham , 37 in 1962-63.
Greaves is also the top scorer in Spurs history, with 266 goals in 379 games. The London club recalled him in a note that appeared on the club’s website: “We are extremely saddened to learn of the death of the great Jimmy Greaves, not only the best scorer of Tottenham Hotspur, but the best scorer this country has ever known. “.
266 goals. 379 appearances.
Not just Tottenham Hotspur’s record goalscorer but the finest marksman this country has ever seen. ???? pic.twitter.com/rQxyjBFofH
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 19, 2021