Fearless and inspirational Scottish midfielder whose indomitable spirit and courage made him one of the greatest players in Tottenham's history.
David Craig Mackay was born on 14 November 1934 in Edinburgh, Scotland, close to Heart of Midlothian's Tynecastle Park, and grew up dreaming of playing for the club he could see from his childhood home. He worked as an apprentice joiner while playing for local side Slateford Athletic before signing for Hearts, helping the club win the Scottish league title in 1958 with a remarkable +103 goal difference. Tottenham Hotspur signed Mackay for £32,000 in 1959 after his standout performances for Scotland at the 1958 World Cup, and he became the combative heartbeat of the legendary Spurs side that won the English League and FA Cup double in 1960-61 — the first club to achieve the feat in the 20th century — playing alongside captain Danny Blanchflower. Mackay's career was nearly ended by a horrific broken leg suffered in a 1963 challenge with Manchester United's Noel Cantwell, an injury so severe it kept him out for nine months, and he broke the same leg again in a reserve match the following year. Remarkably, he fought back to full fitness and helped Tottenham win a further FA Cup in 1967, sharing the Footballer of the Year award with Tony Book in 1969. Mackay earned 22 caps for Scotland and later moved into management, winning the league title with Derby County. He was described by opponents as one of the hardest, most uncompromising players of his generation, and was an inaugural inductee into both the English and Scottish Football Halls of Fame. He died on 2 March 2015, aged 80.
Captaining Tottenham to the first English double of the 20th century
He broke his left leg twice in nine months yet came back both times to play at the highest level, demonstrating extraordinary courage and determination.
Did You Know?How They Played
Dynamic box-to-box midfielder with exceptional leadership, tackling ability and passing range
Lasting Impact
Regarded as one of the greatest Scottish players and most inspirational captains in football history
Career Honours
- League Championship 1961
- FA Cup 3x
- European Cup Winners' Cup 1963
- First Division 1961
- FA Cup 1961
- FA Cup 1962
- FA Cup 1967
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1963
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart of Midlothian | 1953–1959 | 135 | 25 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 1959–1968 | 268 | 42 |
| Derby County | 1968–1971 | 122 | 5 |
| Swindon Town | 1971–1972 | 26 | 1 |
 Scotland | — | 22 | 4 |