England great Jimmy Greaves being treated in hospital

Fears grow for health of Tottenham goalscoring legend

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  Jimmy Greaves skips past Yugoslavian goalkeeper Milutin Soskic during the match between England and the rest of the world at Wembley Stadium in 1965. AP

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  England's Jimmy Greaves, second right, scores his team's third goal past Scotland goalkeeper Frank Haffey. Getty

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  Jimmy Greaves, left, in action for Tottenham against Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final match at Hillsborough on April 29, 1967. Tottenham won 2-1. Getty

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  Jimmy Greaves opens the scoring against Nottingham Forest in that 1967 semi-final. Getty

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  England's Jimmy Greaves, left, evades France's Jacky Simon during a 1966 World Cup match at Wembley. AFP

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  Jimmy Greaves, standing second left, with the England team before a match against Denmark in 1966 in Idraetsparken. AFP

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  Jimmy Greaves in action for England against Russia on October 23, 1963. PA

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  Enjoying the snow in January 17, 1966. PA

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  Greaves and Jimmy Armfield take it easy during a training session at Roehampton on July 15, 1966. PA

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  Greaves, during training with Tottenham Hotspur, on August 1, 1966. PA

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  Jimmy Greaves seen here in training with Spurs ahead of the 1967 FA Cup final at Wembley stadium against his former club Chelsea. Getty

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  Greaves in the changing rooms on January 1, 1966. PA

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  Training with England in 1966. PA

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  Spurs' Jimmy Greaves (left) leaps for a ball and scores in the match against West Bromwich at White Hart Lane, in 1966. PA

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  Greaves and Terry Dyson carry the European Cup Winners Cup at London's Heathrow Airport after beating Atletico Madrid in 1963. AP

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  England striker Jimmy Greaves shoots at goal against Wales during the Home International Championship match at Wembley Stadium in November, 1962. Getty

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  Jimmy Greaves during his spell at West Ham United in 1971. PA

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  Ian St John and Jimmy Greaves, who presented the 'Saint and Greavsie' television show in the UK from 1985-1992.

Jimmy Greaves, one of England's greatest ever goalscorers, was being treated in hospital, his former club Tottenham Hotspur announced.

Greaves, 80, has been in poor health since suffering a stroke five years ago. There was no suggestion that he had been suffering from any symptoms related to the coronavirus.

Nobody has scored more top-flight goals in English football than Greaves, who started his career at Chelsea before spells at Milan, Spurs and West Ham.

"We can confirm that our record goalscorer Jimmy Greaves is currently being treated in hospital. We are in touch with his family and will provide further updates in due course," Tottenham said on Twitter.

"Everybody at the club sends their best wishes to Jimmy and his family."

The club did not give any further details about Greaves's condition.

Greaves's record of 357 goals in the top flight of English football remains unbeaten nearly half a century since he retired as a professional player.

Jimmy Greaves, playing for England in 1965. PA

He also scored 44 goals in 57 games for England, making him the country's fourth highest scorer behind Wayne Rooney, Bobby Charlton and Gary Lineker, and was part of the 1966 World Cup-winning squad.