Dave Mackay dies, aged 80

Former Tottenham and Scotland midfielder Dave Mackay has died aged 80, the Barclays Premier League side have announced.

Mackay, who was part of Spurs’ 1961 double-winning team, passed away at hospital in Nottingham on Monday evening.

“We were saddened to hear of the death of our former captain Dave Mackay who passed away at the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, this evening (Monday, March 2). He was 80,” a statement on Tottenham’s website read.

“He was a superb player who possessed all the technique, passing ability and talent to be the complete footballer,” the statement continued.

“He was the heart-beat of our 1961 ‘Double’ side, was then a key member of the team that retained the FA Cup the following season and, although injury kept him out of our 1963 European Cup Winners’ Cup final triumph, he had played a vital role in getting us there.

“He formed a marvellous midfield combination with Danny Blanchflower and, when the Northern Ireland international left us in 1964, Mackay took over as Spurs captain and led us to another FA Cup triumph in 1967. He twice broke the same leg in our cause but, each time, came back stronger than ever.”

Mackay, who earned 22 caps for Scotland, began his career with Hearts in 1953 and captained the side to the Scottish League title during the 1957-58 season.

The Edinburgh-born player moved south of the border to join Spurs in 1959 and helped the north London club become the first English side to win the league and FA Cup double during the 1960-61 season.

Mackay helped Tottenham retain the FA Cup the following season and was captain when Spurs lifted the trophy in 1967.

He joined Derby in 1968 and helped Brain Clough’s side win promotion to the First Division the following year before taking up a player-manager role at Swindon Town in 1971.

A year later Mackay left the Robins to manage Nottingham Forest for a brief spell before succeeding Clough as Derby manager in 1973, with the Rams winning the First Division title in 1975.

Mackay, who was admitted to hospital with a chest infection in 2012, also managed Walsall, Doncaster, Birmingham and several sides in the Middle East.


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