Scotland and Hearts football legend Dave Mackay dies aged 80Edinburgh born Dave Mackay is one of Hearts’ greatest ever players - leading the famous title-winning team of 1958.
SCOTTISH football legend Dave Mackay died last night - at the age of 80.
The former Hearts, Tottenham Hotspur and Scotland star - described by George Best as the “hardest man I have ever played against” - passed away after battling illness for some time.
Fans and officials at the Tynecastle club were devastated by the news last night.
Edinburgh born Mackay is one of the club’s greatest ever players - leading the famous title-winning team of 1958.
Ian Murray, chairman of the Foundation of Hearts group, said: “It really is a sad day for the club. Dave Mackay was a giant among the Hearts family. He will be remembered all across the UK and Europe.
“He was a legendary player and his heart always remained at Tynecastle. Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to his friends and family and everyone who knew him both in and out of football.”
Comedian Andy Cameron tweeted: “RIP Dave McKay. A proper footballer.”
In a interview in 2009, Mackay said the game was harder in his day. He said: “I think there are fewer players of my kind around than there were. Football’s changed. In our time it was a tougher game, maybe because of the referees.
“In the olden days you got away with more hard tackles. As long as they were fair, you were OK. Nowadays a hard tackle can get you a booking, which isn’t right if it’s not dirty. Even though I can show you a few stud-marks in my legs.”
Fans took to social media last night to share their grief. Martin Cloake wrote: “Very, very sad news that a Spurs and Hearts legend has died. RIP Dave Mackay - a true legend and a great man.”
Dave Mackay poses for a football hero stamp
Alan Meikle wrote: “A privilege a few years back to meet such a gentleman, legend and inspiration to Heart of Midlothian, a true great. RIP Dave Mackay.”
As well as his role in the double winning Tottenham Hotspur side of 1961, and winning the league with Derby County as a manager, Mackay also represented Scotland 22 times.
He was selected for their 1958 FIFA World Cup squad. Mackay tied with Tony Book of Manchester City for the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year award in 1969 and was later listed by The Football League in their “100 Legends”.
Mackay was one of the first Scots to be inducted to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002 in recognition of his impact on the English game as both a player and manager.
Mackay, playing Tottenham Hotspur, confronts Billy Bremner of Leeds during the First Division Football match at White Hart Lane
Four years later, he became an inaugural inductee of the Heart of Midlothian Hall of Fame in recognition of his success as a player in the 1950s.
The famous image of Mackay grabbing fellow Scot Billy Bremner by the scruff of the neck during a tough Spurs v Leeds encounter remains one of the most iconic football images of all time.
Mackay himself said he didn’t like the picture - as he thought it made him look like a bully. In fact, Bremner had just made a lunge at Mackay’s leg - which was broken the season before - prompting Mackay’s tough response.
