Former Tottenham and Chelsea striker Jimmy Greaves MBE, known as one of the greatest goal scorers English football has ever produced, has died at the age of 81 after a period of illness.  

Spurs announced that their all-time record goal scorer and one of their greatest players in the club's history passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning. The 1966 England World Cup squad member was in poor health since suffering a stroke in 2015, after which his speech was limited and he required care four times a day.

Nicknamed 'Greavsie', he was the greatest goal scorer of his generation, scoring 447 goals across his club career including an unrivalled 266 for Tottenham, 132 strikes for fellow London club Chelsea and 44 goals in 57 games for England.During his career at Tottenham, Greaves won the FA Cup twice during the 1960s and helped Spurs to the European Cup Winners' Cup in the 1962-63 season. His contributions to football also earned him an MBE in December of last year, thanks to a Sportsmail campaign to award him the gong.  

He leaves behind wife Irene, four children Lynn, Mitzi, Danny and Andrew along with 10 grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

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Tottenham and football legend Jimmy Greaves has passed away at the age of 81

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The Spurs legend (left) was known as one of the greatest ever goal scorers in English football

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Greaves (left, pictured a few years ago) leaves behind wife Irene (right), four children Lynn, Mitzi, Danny and Andrew along with 10 grandchildren and great grandchildren

Greaves' beloved Tottenham announced his passing via social media on Sunday morning

GREAVSIE'S STELLAR FOOTBALL CAREER IN NUMBERS 

114 - goals scored for the youth team after signing for Chelsea in 1956.

17 - Greaves' age when he made his first-team debut for Chelsea, scoring in a 1-1 draw with Tottenham.

100 - number of league goals Greaves had scored by the age of 20. He remains the youngest player to reach the landmark.

99,999 - the fee in pounds paid by Tottenham to sign Greaves from AC Milan in 1961.

132 - goals for Chelsea in 169 games.

44 - goals scored for England in 57 matches. He is still fourth on the all-time list behind Wayne Rooney (53), Bobby Charlton (49) and Gary Lineker (48).

6 - hat-tricks scored for England still stands as a record today.

41 - number of goals for Chelsea in 40 league games during the 1960/61 season is still a club record at Stamford Bridge.

266 - goals for Tottenham in 379 appearances means Greaves remains Spurs' record goal scorer.