GILZEAN, Alan John (1964-75)

Position: Forward
Height: 6ft
Weight: 12st 4lbs
Born: Coupar Angus, Perthshire, 23 October, 1938
Died: Glasgow, 8 July, 2018
Also played for: Dundee Violet, Dundee, Highland Park, Scotland

Spurs Record:
Debut: December, 1964 v Everton (FL) (h) drew 2-2
Appearances: League 335(8), FA Cup 40, League Cup 27(1), Europe 27(1)
Goals: League 93, FA Cup 21, League Cup 6, Europe 13

The sight of Alan Gilzean’s balding pate rising from amongst a clutch of defenders to delicately flick the ball on for Jimmy Greaves or Martin Chivers will be an enduring memory for those Spurs’ fans who had the privilege of watching ‘The King of White Hart Lane’ in action.  For almost 10 years Gilzean’s subtle attacking play provided the ammunition for our greatest scorers to fire home the goals that garnered the silverware to fill the trophy cabinet.

Gilzean had been a key figure at Dundee and in seven years he scored over 160 goals for the Dark Blues. In November, 1964, he scored twice for a Scotland XI in a memorial match for John White at White Hart Lane.  It was enough to convince Bill Nicholson that Gilzean was the man he wanted to spearhead the new team he was determined to build as the ‘Double’ side broke up.  Dundee would not release Gilzean cheaply and it took a cheque for £72,500 to secure his signature.

With Dundee, Gilzean had been the strong, bustling spearhead they relied on for goals.  At Spurs, Greaves was the principal scorer and Gilzean quickly adapted his style to suit the pace and quicksilver reactions of the little man.  The two of them formed a devastating partnership with Gilzean the focal point of the attack and Greaves picking up the pieces from the havoc Gilzean created.  He still put himself about and netted his fair share of goals but power was supplemented by subtlety and guile.  In the 1967 FA Cup Final he gave a masterclass in centre-forward play, totally dominating Marvin Hinton and creating the space that led to the goals by Frank Saul and Jimmy Robertson that won us the trophy.

When Martin Chivers was signed from Southampton early in 1968, Gilzean’s place seemed under threat but his Spurs career was far from over.  He again adapted, this time moving from the central position out wide from where he could move into the danger area with late runs.  Gilzean worked so well with Chivers that eventually it was Greaves who found himself out of the team and on his way to West Ham United while Gilzean and Chivers went on to lead us to League Cup success in 1971 and 1973 and victory in the UEFA Cup in 1972.

Gilzean’s great strength was his aerial power but there was more to ‘Gilly’ than just an ability to get his head to the ball.  He could get power behind his headers when needed but it was the way he could guide the ball into the perfect place with a delicate deflection that he will be most remembered for.  

He was no slouch on the floor either, protecting the ball with his body while he caressed it gently before laying it off.  Gilzean did not look particularly powerful but he had a strength few defenders could match and a stamina that was surprising for someone who often looked older than he actually was.  Never the fastest of players, what he lacked in pace he more than made up for with speed of thought and cunning that helped him find time and space.

Gilzean’s career with us came to an end in June 1974 on an end of season tour to Mauritius.  He scored seven goals in three games against Mauritius Select XIs, including a hat-trick in the last that was followed by his team-mates carrying him around the pitch on a lap of honour.  Fortunately Spurs fans had their chance to show their appreciation of his service the following November when he scored in his Testimonial against Red Star Belgrade.

He served the old Stevenage Athletic club as manager from May, 1975 until August, 1976.

Alan gained the first of 22 full caps for Scotland versus Norway on 7 November 1963 and his last against Portugal on 21 April, 1971. He scored 12 goals on international duty.

One of his sons, Ian, played for our youth and reserve teams between 1985 and 1992 before joining Dundee.

A keen golfer and cricketer, not only was Alan inducted into our Hall of Fame in 2013 but also that at Dundee and into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.