Tottenham announce that legend and former captain Dave Mackay has died

Posted Tuesday, March 03, 2015 by skysports.com

Tottenham announce that legend and former captain Dave Mackay has died
Dave Mackay: In action for Tottenham against Liverpool at White Hart Lane in 1968

Tottenham have announced that their former captain and one of their greatest players Dave Mackay has died. He was 80.

The Scot passed away at the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, on Monday evening and the north Londoners confirmed the news in a statement that called Mackay "one of our greatest ever players".

Mackay was an established Scotland international when he moved to White Hart Lane from boyhood club Hearts for £32,000 in March, 1959.

He had won all three Scottish domestic honours - and was also voted Scotland’s ‘Player of the Year’ - while with Hearts where his renowned determination, enthusiasm, power, commitment and bravery first surfaced.

Mackay was at the heart of Tottenham's famous 1961 domestic double-winning side, the first time it had been achieved that century, and was also a key member of the team that retained the FA Cup the following season.

Injury would keep the Scotsman out of Spurs' 1963 European Cup Winners’ Cup 5-1 final triumph over Atletico Madrid, becoming the first British side to win a European trophy

He formed a midfield combination with another Tottenham legend Danny Blanchflower and, when the Northern Ireland international left in 1964, Mackay took over the Spurs captaincy.

Mackay led the club to another FA Cup triumph in 1967 over Chelsea, breaking his leg twice in the cup run.

He left Tottenham for Derby County in July 1968 after 318 appearances, and was named joint ‘Footballer of the Year’ the following season, along with Tony Book.

He returned to Derby as manager in 1973, taking over from Brian Clough, and led them to the League title in 1975.

The Scot went on to manage Walsall before moving to Kuwait where he had spells in charge of three club sides. Mackay returned to the UK to manage Birmingham in 1987 before going back to the Middle East.

He also won 22 caps for Scotland and played for his country in the 1958 World Cup finals and was described by George Best as "the hardest man I have ever played against - and certainly the bravest".

A Spurs statement said: "Dave Mackay will certainly always be remembered here as one of our greatest ever players and a man who never failed to inspire those around him.

"In short, a Spurs legend.

"We extend our condolences to the Mackay family at this sad time."