The Football Association is saddened to hear of the death of legendary Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Dave Mackay.
Mackay – who was a key part of Spurs’ famous 1961 double-winning team – passed away at a hospital in Nottingham on Monday evening, aged 80.
David Craig Mackay
Born: Edinburgh 14 November 1934
Clubs: Hearts, Tottenham Hotspur, Derby County, Swindon Town
Scotland caps: 22
Scotland goals: 4
Major trophies: Scottish League 1958; Scottish Cup 1956; Scottish League Cup 1954, 1955; English League 1961; FA Cup 1961, 62, 67; European Cup Winners Cup 1963
The ex-Scotland international won 22 caps for his country and started his career with Hearts in 1953, captaining the Edinburgh side to the Scottish League title during the 1957-58 season.
He moved south of the border to join Tottenham 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 campaign.
The Edinburgh-born player helped Spurs retain the FA Cup the following season and was captain when Spurs lifted the trophy again in 1967.
A statement on Tottenham’s website read: "We were saddened to hear of the death of our former captain Dave Mackay who passed away at the Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham. He was 80.
Dave Mackay leaps for the ball in 1960
"He was a superb player who possessed all the technique, passing ability and talent to be the complete footballer.
"He was the heartbeat 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 left Tottenham to join Derby in 1968 and helped Brian Clough's side win promotion to the First Division the following year before taking up a player-manager role at Swindon Town in 1971.
He left the Robins a year later 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 also had stints as boss of Walsall, Doncaster Rovers and Birmingham City.
