Goodbye Jimmy Greaves: Legendary England and Tottenham Striker Dies at 81

(Photo : Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - Players and fans observe a few minutes of silence in memory of Jimmy Greaves MBE prior to the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on September 19, 2021 in London, England.

The entire football world is in mourning after the death of legendary English striker Jimmy Greaves. Tottenham, Greaves' former club, announced the unfortunate news on Sunday, with tributes quickly pouring in for the 81-year-old forward who holds the record for most goals scored in the English top flight.

Tottenham released a statement, saying, "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." The statement later confirmed that Greaves passed away at his home in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Tributes pour in for Greaves

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was saddened by the news of Greaves' passing, saying, "He will be remembered as a goalscoring legend and one of the greats of English football." England captain Harry Kane, Tottenham's second-highest goalscorer of all time behind Greaves, said that he was a "true legend."

Former England and Spurs striker Gary Lineker also paid tribute to Greaves, saying he was "a giant of the sport." Lineker further explained the importance of Greaves to English football, saying that he is "quite possibly the greatest striker this country has ever produced." No one can doubt Lineker's claim, given the astounding numbers Greaves produced both for club and country.

Greaves' goals for club and country simply off the charts

He scored an incredible 266 goals in 379 appearances for the Spurs between 1961 and 1970, helping Tottenham capture the FA Cup twice and the European Cup Winners Cup during that span. Before joining the Spurs, Greaves played for Chelsea, where he still holds the record for most goals scored in a season with 41, which he accomplished during the 1960-61 season.

Greaves holds that same mark with the Spurs, scoring 37 goals for Tottenham in the 1962-63 campaign, the highest in a season in that club's history. He quickly made his mark in Tottenham's colors, scoring a hat trick on his debut against Blackpool.

He has a knack for scoring in the big games, netting in the 1962 FA Cup Final, and recording a double in the 1963 Winners' Cup. During his time with Chelsea, Tottenham, and West Ham, Greaves was able to amass a record total of 357 goals in the English top flight.

Greaves was also a member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad, the only Three Lions side that won a major international trophy in football. His exploits for England have been tremendous, to say the least, with Greaves scoring 44 goals in 57 appearances, the best conversion rate of any player who has served the Three Lions' cause.

The English football legend is survived by his wife Irene, their four children, ten grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.