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Alan Gilzean was a true legend at Spurs.

He formed a lethal partnership as half of the "G-Men" with Jimmy Greaves in the 1960s and yet another successful pairing with Martin Chivers in the early 1970s.

Gilzean's languid style of play disguised a player with immense skill and Spurs fans with long memories will remember with fondness his uncanny knack of flicking the ball on from a Chivers long throw with his stangely pyramid-shaped head for Martin Peters to ghost in at the far post.

Gilzean's 13 goals in European Competitions helped Spurs to victory in the UEFA Cup in 1972.

Think not losing 4-0 every week usually helps!

I couldn't agree with you more, Jack. I write a newsletter in conjuction with a footie fantasy league and I have introduced a Legends page just to educate a few young 'uns and Americans who the great players were.
Of course, medal winners such as Law, Shearer, Dalglish, Rush et al are there, but I have added club legends. Club legends such as Derek Fazackerly of Blackburn, Liam Brady of Arsenal, Jeff Astle, WBA and Charlie Cooke of Chelsea. The lsit is arbritary of course and so far hasn't caused any controversy, but I am sure it will!

I think in the modern game most players who spend their entire careers at the one club are entitled to legend status, Tony Adams at Arsenal, Ryan Giggs at Man Utd, Paolo Maldini at Milan, although it also helps that they've won a truckload of medals between them

First off good blog, as a Liverpool fan you can understand my bias here but you say that to be a legend on the world stage players have to shine, then how do the likes of Ian Rush (wales) Kenny Dalglish (Scotland) become world legends without actually shining at world cups?

The definition of a legend is 'a source of exaggerated or romanticized tales or exploits' in other words a slightly rose-tinted perception of past history where deeds are often magnified or inflated to seem more exceptional than they actually were. Thus to become a footballing legend at a club you have to have done something quite out of the ordinary - so meaningful to those fans watching that it becomes a touch-stone moment that can be used as a reference point for ever more. The greater the significance of the event the bigger the story eg. Think Maradona, think 'Hand of God' and 'Wonder Goal'.

You can ofcourse become a local legend by being a one club man as that is so unusual in itself especially in the modern game and definately secures a loyal 'local fan base' if nothing else; but the scale of your prestige is governed much more by propensity of incredible stand-out moments you create than simply being 'rated' for ability.

First of all, name says it all. Billy Mehmet is a legend.

Second, did my name give you the idea for this blog, Jack? If so, I'd like to take full credit.

Third, why was there no response to any comments on your previous blog. You seem to have hidden away from comments from regular readers of your blog because not all were nicey nicey.

Great blog Jack. As a Southampton fan, it's not clear who our biggest 'legend' is. Mick Channon is of course the clubs all time leading goal-scorer. Then there's Matt le Tissier, who would be most Saints fans' automatic choice as no.1 club legend. What he did on the ball could not be matched by any other player in Prem history, with the possible exception of Ronaldo. Not the fat one, obviously.

For me, Le Tissier is my Southampton legend, as he was in the team when I was growing up. I never saw Channon play so apart from video footage and the words of older fans, I can't judge on how good he was for our club.

I thought you were going to use this blog to give us an 'insight into the life and mind of an SPL player'? Why don't you tell us what it's like to get hooked at half-time as your team get hammered for the second game in a row? Not that I wish to gloat over your misfortune but isn't that why you got the gig on the website - to let us know what footy life's like at the lower level?

The most interesting point for me, is what the passing of time means to players/managers and their 'legend' status. As a Rangers fan, there are certainly many who can lay claim to being club legends, but those from the past are often forgotten or remembered only in books. Each generation has it's own legends, mine would be Ally McCoist, Richard Gough, Walter Smith, Andy Goram amongst others, but only the truely great continue down each generation. There are players who I may consider club legends, but in 20/30 years time, will not be remembered so.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

The most interesting point for me, is what the passing of time means to players/managers and their 'legend' status. As a Rangers fan, there are certainly many who can lay claim to being club legends, but those from the past are often forgotten or remembered only in books. Each generation has it's own legends, mine would be Ally McCoist, Richard Gough, Walter Smith, Andy Goram amongst others, but only the truely great continue down each generation. There are players who I may consider club legends, but in 20/30 years time, will not be remembered so, as a new breed takes presidence in peoples minds.

#9

A club can have more than one legend!

MLT was a very classy, skillful player and shame he never got greater recognition for it at international level.

Look listen please someone in the SFA try out these 2 simple basic ideas, please someone respond to my idea.
Put SPL reserve teams in the lower leagues or to play against third division sides in a new cup competition so our young players are guaranteed experience against real teams.
Games such as Queens Park V Celtic reserves, Aberdeen Reserves V Elgin City would be perfect preperation for young players who fail to get in the first team. With decent crowds against real teams. IT IS WHAT THEY DO IN SPAIN AND GERMANY. Where every Spanish side has a reserve side playing real proper teams ion the Spanish pyramid system. Bareclona B even play in the second division. All I suggest is a cup trophy. SO it ensures players get real experience.

Then the second idea start a trophy with another country such as Denmark, the Netherlands, Switzerland, anywhere where all our top teams can play a group stage tournament against teams from their country so they get more regular experience against good teams from another country.
We used to have the anglo Scottish cup Lets have a danish scottish cup or a dutch scottish cup. Anything to ensure we can get match practice against foreign teams. See all yearif our team are any good.
Make the league 16 teams, 30 games a season ( as it was until the late 50s) have the top 4 or 6 sides play another country like teams from Denmark, or the Netherlands,) in some group stage tournament to get to play good teams from other countries.
To make up for the lakc of games in the league for teams not in the multi nation trophy. Have a group stage of the league cup for teams that did not play in this trophy to make up the numbers for their games. Teams that qualified for europe go to the knockout stages of the league cup.


Please SFA make scotland innovative and creative.

I bet all that will happen is some awful 2 year report which ends up with the pointless request foirm the scottish government for millions of pounds to fund training facilities..

If the scottish football do not do my ideas then I will no longer support scottish football I do not relate to a country where half the people support other countries (Ireland or England) and care more about hating both or one half of the old firm than doing well. I give in.
I have given so much of my heart and faith to scottish football and all it gives me on national level is heart ache. I want to have a long life. .

I'm gutted for you with what's happened at Hamilton. You were brilliant at St Mirren and I know you were definately a fans favourite! I had your name on the back of my shirt last season! :D Good luck in the future!

Well said Jo! You were superb in your debut season, probably our best player. It's a shame things didn't work out for you at Hamilton - all the best with your future, whatever it may hold!

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The critical minds of supporters means that it is difficult to gain the status of a legend. I think that a key part of gaining this title is when the player shows the same kind of drive and devotion that most supporters have for the club, and the "never say die" attitude in games where you feel that they always give 100%.

I have to say Jack that I'm sorry to hear you've departed from the Accies already. As an Accies supporter I just wanted to wish you well for the future - whatever that may bring. I guess sometimes things just don't work out the way you think they will.

#6, bigredfan100:
I guess I'm too late to the party, but you need to get out more - out of the country, that is - if you think Rush and Dalgish are worldwide icons.