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David Craig Mackay (14 November 1934 – 2 March 2015) was a Scottish football player and manager. He was described, by Tottenham Hotspur, as one of their greatest players and was known as 'the heartbeat' of their most successful ever team.

He was signed by Tottenham Hotspur for £32,000 on 16 March 1959 making his debut in a 3–1 home win against Manchester City. During the 1960s his fierce determination and skill contributed to the team which won the Double in 1960–61. As double winners Spurs played in the 1961 FA Charity Shield against an FA XI which Spurs won 3–2. In that 1961 FA Cup Final they beat Leicester City 2–0. They retained the trophy when they won the 1962 FA Cup Final beating Burnley 3–1. This put them into a second successive Charity Shield. In that 1962 FA Charity Shield they beat Ipswich Town 5–1. This put Spurs into the 1962–63 Cup Winners' Cup. However Mackay missed the 5–1 1963 European Cup Winners' Cup Final victory over the defending champions Atlético Madrid at De Kuip in Rotterdam due to injured stomach muscles. Mackay had scored in the semi-final victory against OFK Beograd.

Spurs defended the Cup Winners' Cup the season after and were drawn to play the then FA Cup-holders, Manchester United, in the second round. Mackay scored the opener in the first leg 2–0 victory at White Hart Lane. On 10 December 1963 Mackay broke his left leg in a challenge with United's Noel Cantwell after eight minutes of the return tie at Old Trafford. Without him his teammates lost 4–1 due to a double strike by Bobby Charlton in the last 13 minutes. Mackay had just turned 29 the month before. The break was a serious one, and it took nine months before he attempted a comeback. Playing for Tottenham's reserves at home to Shrewsbury Town on 12 September 1964, he broke the same bone a second time, this time in a challenge with Peter Dolby. Mackay returned at the start of the 1965–66 season having missed a year and a half of first-team football.

In August 1966 Mackay was photographed by Daily Mirror photographer Monte Fresco in an on-pitch confrontation with Leeds United's Billy Bremner. Mackay's face contorted, he is seen grabbing Bremner's shirt. The image is seen as one of the most iconic in UK football although Mackay hated it as it portrayed him as a bully. Mackay stated he reacted in the manner he did since Bremner targeted Mackay's left leg (the one he had broken twice) even though this leg was furthest away from Bremner.

Tottenham won the 1967 FA Cup Final beating Chelsea 2–1 for a third success in that tournament with Mackay. In the subsequent Charity Shield, Spurs drew 3–3 with Manchester United in a match remembered for goalkeeper Pat Jennings scoring with a kick from his own penalty area.

Mackay made 268 league appearances for Tottenham. With Mackay, Spurs won one league championship, three FA Cups, one European Cup Winners' Cup and two FA Charity Shields as well as the 1967 Charity Shield that they shared because of the draw. None of these trophies were won in the two seasons affected by Mackay's lengthy injury due to his leg break.

Legacy[]

Brian Clough claimed in 2003 that Mackay was Tottenham Hotspur's greatest ever player.

In 2013, Mackay was one of eleven British football stars chosen by Royal Mail to feature on a set of stamps marking the 150th anniversary of The Football Association.

George Best (1946–2005), of Manchester United, one of Tottenham's fiercest rivals in the 1960s, described Mackay as "the hardest man I have ever played against – and certainly the bravest".

Following his death from dementia in 2015, Tottenham Hotspur wrote in an obituary "Dave Mackay will certainly always be remembered here as one of our greatest ever players and a man who never failed to inspire those around him. In short, a Spurs legend".

Honours[]

1960-61 - First Division (2)
1960-61 - FA Cup (3)
1961 - Charity Shield (3)
1961-62 - FA Cup (4)
1962 - Charity Shield (4)
1962-63 - European Cup Winners' Cup (1)
1966-67 - FA Cup (5)
1967 - Charity Shield (shared, 5)

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Preceded by Tottenham Hotspur F.C. captain Succeeded by
Northern Ireland Danny Blanchflower Scotland Dave Mackay England Alan Mullery


Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame
C. AllenL. AllenP. AllenAndertonArdilesBakerBlanchflowerBrownBurgessBurkinshawClemenceChiversCoatesDimmockDitchburnDysonEnglandFreundBealGilzeanGinolaGreavesGrimsdellHallHenryHoddleJenningsJonesLinekerMabbuttMackayMedwinMillerMulleryNicholsonNormanPerrymanPetersPrattRobertsSheringhamSmithVillaWaddleWhite
Squads
1960-61 Football League First Division squad - winners
BrownBakerHenryBlanchflowerNormanMackayJonesWhiteSmithAllenDysonMedwinSaulMarchiHollowbreadBartonSmith - Manager: Nicholson
1961 FA Cup Final squad - winners
BrownBakerHenryBlanchflowerNormanMackayJonesWhiteSmithAllenDyson
Manager: Nicholson
1962 FA Cup Final squad - winners
BrownBakerHenryBlanchflowerNormanMackayMedwinWhiteSmithGreavesJones - Manager: Nicholson
1963 European Cup Winners' Cup squad - winners
BrownBakerNormanHenryBlanchflowerMarchiJonesWhiteSmithGreavesDyson
Manager: Nicholson
1967 FA Cup Final squad - winners
JenningsKinnearKnowlesMulleryEnglandMackayRobertsonGreavesGilzeanVenablesSaulJones - Manager: Nicholson
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