Former Tottenham captain Dave Mackay dies, aged 80

The north Londoners have paid tribute to the man George Best described as "the hardest man I have ever played against"

Tottenham have announced that former captain Dave Mackay has passed away at the age of 80.

The former Scotland international won the Double for Spurs in 1961 and also led Derby to the league title as manager.

Mackay won 22 caps for Scotland, scoring four times, and was once described by George Best as “hardest man I have ever played against and certainly the bravest”.

Mackay joined Spurs from Hearts, where he won the league and both cups and the north Londoners have paid tribute to their former skipper.

“We were saddened to hear of the death of our former captain Dave Mackay who passed away at the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham on Monday 2 March. He was 80,” it read.

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

“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.”