Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday announced the sad news that club legend Jimmy Greaves has died. 

“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.” read the Tottenham Hotspur official website.

Greaves was one of Spurs’ greatest ever players and their highest ever goalscorer with 266 goals. He was also the highest goalscorer in the history of English top-flight football with a total of 357 goals following his stints at Spurs, Chelsea, West Ham, Brentwood, Barnet, Chelmsford City and Woodford Town. His brief spell at Italian giants A.C. Milan lasted only twelve appearances.

At International level, Greaves is the fourth-highest goalscorer of England with 44 goals in 57 senior appearances. He was also a part of the 1966 World Cup winning squad, although he was not given his medal until a change of rules in 2009.

It wasn't all smooth sailing for Greaves, however, as the Englishman fought a personal battle against alcoholism and eventually came out on the winning side after having a final drink in 1978. 

“I lost the 1970s completely. I was drunk from 1972 to 1977. I woke up one morning and realised it was a different world. I’d been living in it but I hadn’t been aware of it.” Greaves told the Guardian in 2003.

Younger generation would know him as the co-presenter of the hit ITV show Saint and Greavsie which ran till 1992 where he, along with Ian St John discussed the day’s matches and current football themes. 

He suffered a severe stroke in 2015, after which he became partially paralysed.