Ex-Tottenham & England Striker Martin Chivers Dies at 80

Ex-Tottenham and England forward Chivers dies aged 80

Former Tottenham Hotspur and England striker Martin Chivers has died at the age of 80. Widely regarded as one of Spurs’ greatest-ever forwards, Chivers scored an incredible 174 goals in 367 appearances during an eight-year spell in North London.

Tottenham released a statement saying:

“It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of our legendary former striker, Martin Chivers. We extend our deepest sympathies to Martin’s family, friends and former team-mates at this incredibly sad time. Rest in peace, Martin. One of the all-time greats.”

Born in Southampton in 1945, Chivers began his career with his hometown club, netting 106 goals in 190 games before joining Spurs in 1968 for a then British-record fee of £125,000. Under legendary manager Bill Nicholson, Chivers became a dominant force in attack, combining power, pace and technique.

He played a pivotal role in Tottenham’s success in the early 1970s, winning:

• League Cup titles in 1971 and 1973

• The 1972 UEFA Cup, scoring a header and a stunning long-range strike in the first leg of the final against Wolves

Known for stepping up in big games, Chivers’ goals helped define an era of silverware for Spurs.

On the international stage, Chivers earned 24 caps for England, scoring 13 goals. He was a regular under Sir Alf Ramsey during the early 1970s but saw his international career curtailed after England failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup, with Chivers featuring in the infamous 1–1 draw against Poland at Wembley.

Following his time at Spurs, Chivers played for clubs including Norwich City, Brighton, Dorchester Town, and had spells abroad in Switzerland and Norway, retiring in 1983 after a short stint at Barnet.

Tottenham players will wear black armbands during their next Premier League match against Bournemouth in tribute to Chivers.

Chivers leaves behind a remarkable legacy as one of English football’s most respected and prolific forwards. Tributes have poured in from Tottenham, the FA, and former teammates, all hailing him as a “player for the big occasion” and a true icon of the game.