Former Tottenham and England midfielder Ralph Coates has died, his agent confirmed on Friday.
Midfielder helped club land 1973 League Cup
Former Tottenham and England midfielder Ralph Coates has died, his agent confirmed on Friday.
Coates passed away peacefully in the morning following a stroke. He died aged 64.
He will be remembered by the White Hart Lane faithful for scoring the winning goal for Spurs in their 1973 League Cup triumph over Norwich.
Coates was capped four times by England after starting his playing career at Burnley, before going onto to play for Leyton Orient.
Manager Harry Redknapp paid tribute to Coates, saying: "He was just a great guy, one of life's nice fellas.
Still loved
"He is still loved here. I came across him in his Burnley days. We have sent condolences to his family."
Darren Eales, director of football administration, said Coates would be sadly missed.
Eales was speaking to
Sky Sports News after Spurs had been drawn against AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League.
He said: "We've also heard some sad news this morning that Ralph Coates, Spurs legend and England international, sadly passed away.
"The club would like to pass on its deepest condolences to all of Ralph's friends and family. Our thoughts are with them at this sad time.
"He was a really top bloke around the club and continued to work as our ambassador. Not only as a player, he'll be missed as a really top bloke."
Coates spent 10 years at Burnley after joining the Clarets as an apprentice in 1961 and the Lancashire club also offered their condolences to his family and friends.
He won the first of his two England caps while at Turf Moor and was named in the provisional squad for the 1970 World Cup.
Burnley chief executive Paul Fletcher, a former team-mate of Coates, told the club's
official website: "I played up front with Ralph when I first came to the club.
Revered
"He had just been in the World Cup squad and my defining memory of him would be turning up in the wonderful Ford Cortina Turbo all the players were given.
"I can still see him getting out of the car and throwing his hair over his head, as he used to. He kept in close contact with Burnley Football Club over the years and he was here earlier this season with his son."
Fletcher added: "He was revered here and it is a very sad day for everyone. He will be very sadly missed."
Former Burnley captain Martin Dobson, now director of youth development at Turf Moor, played alongside Coates for five years.
He said: "He was immensely popular with the fans and in the dressing room and he always had a smile on his face. What a player he was, and everybody warmed to him.
"You just knew the supporters were genuinely happy to see Ralph playing for
Burnley Football Club and there's not many players who have that warmth and
affection.
"He was just a smashing guy and it's a sad, sad loss."
