Alan Gilzean

Scottish footballer and manager

Alan John Gilzean (/ɡ//ɪ//l//z//iː//n/; 22 October 1938 – 8 July 2018) was a Scottish professional footballer, active from 1955 to 1975. A striker, Gilzean played most prominently for Dundee and Tottenham Hotspur, and also appeared in 22 international games for Scotland. He helped Dundee win the Scottish league championship in 1961–62 and Tottenham win the FA Cup in 1967, two League Cups (1971 and 1973) and the 1971–72 UEFA Cup

Gilzean began his career with local side Coupar Angus Juniors, before signing provisional forms with Dundee in January 1956 as a 17 year old amateur. A notable match he was involved in was the 4th round FA Cup in 1966 match against Burnley when he scored a hat trick, and won the game 4–3 with a late goal. He was a member of the 1967 FA Cup Final winning team. After strike partner Greaves moved to West Ham United in March 1970, Gilzean and Chivers formed a new and equally successful goalscoring partnership. The 1973–74 season was Gilzean's last as a professional footballer as Spurs lost the UEFA Cup final to Dutch side Feyenoord Rotterdam. Tottenham awarded Gilzean with a testimonial match, played against Red Star Belgrade in November 1974, to recognise his ten years of service as a Tottenham player. He had previously represented his country at Under 23 level and the Scottish League XI. Gilzean represented Scotland seventeen times during his Spurs career.

Gilzean stated, whilst playing, that he disliked football and had no intention of furthering his career after playing. He later worked for a transport company in Enfield, only a short distance from White Hart Lane. His son Ian also became a professional football player. Gilzean died on 8 July 2018, having been diagnosed as suffering from a brain tumour a few weeks earlier.

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gilzean goal. + List of international goals scored by Alan GilzeanNo. DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 11 April 1964 Hampden Park, Glasgow 1–0 1–0 1963–64 British Home Championship2 12 May 1964 Niedersachsen Stadion, Hannover 1–2 2–2 Friendly32–24 25 November 1964 Hampden Park, Glasgow 2–1 3–2 1964–65 British Home Championship5 2 October 1965 Windsor Park, Belfast 1–0 2–3 1965–66 British Home Championship6 2–27 22 November 1967 Hampden Park, Glasgow 1–0 3–2 1967–68 British Home Championship / UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying8 2–29 17 December 1968 Lefkosia, Nicosia CYP 1–0 5–0 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification10 3–011 3 May 1969 The Racecourse Ground, Wrexham 3–2 5–3 1968–69 British Home Championship12 22 October 1969 Volksparkstadion, Hamburg 2–2 2–3 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification