Ray Clemence: Former England goalkeeper dies aged 72 - BBC Sport
Former England, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Ray Clemence dies aged 72.
Last updated on .From the section Football

Former England, Liverpool and Tottenham goalkeeper Ray Clemence has died aged 72.

Clemence, who won five league titles and three European Cups with Liverpool between 1967 and 1981, was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer in 2005.

In a statement on Sunday, the Clemence family said he "passed away peacefully today surrounded by his loving family".

"After fighting so hard, for such a long time, he's now at peace and in no more pain," they added.

As well as league and European Cup success, Clemence also won the FA Cup, League Cup and two Uefa Cups during his time at Anfield.
• None 'He was one of the world's best keepers' - Phil McNulty looks back at Clemence's life

He made 470 league appearances for Liverpool before joining Tottenham.

During his seven-year spell at Spurs, Clemence helped the club retain the FA Cup in 1982 and clocked up 330 appearances.

The legendary goalkeeper, capped by England on 61 occasions, also worked on the north London club's coaching staff and was inducted into the Tottenham Hotspur Hall of Fame in November 2014.

Clemence made his England debut in 1972 and spent the majority of his 11-year international career in a battle with Peter Shilton for the number one shirt.

He captained the Three Lions for the first and only time in a narrow defeat to Brazil at Wembley in 1981 and later took up the role of goalkeeper coach with the Football Association.

His wife Veronica, son Stephen - a former Spurs midfielder and current assistant coach at Newcastle United - and daughters Sarah and Julie said: "The family would like to say a huge thank you, for all the love and support that he's received over the years.

"He was loved so much by us all and he will never be forgotten."

Shilton wrote on Twitter : "I'm absolutely devastated to be told of the sad news that Ray Clemence has just passed away. We were rivals but good friends.

"Ray was a brilliant goalkeeper with a terrific sense of humour. I will miss him a great deal as we've kept friends long after retiring. RIP my friend."

Liverpool great Sir Kenny Dalglish said: "Today we have lost a true legend. Clem was a fantastic team-mate and great to be around. I will never forget how he helped me to settle in at Anfield.

"Our thoughts are with the Clemence family. RIP Clem."

England manager Gareth Southgate added: "He was a very special man and my thoughts are with his family. I've got to know them reasonably well over the years and I know he's had some really difficult battles with illness. It's a very sad day."

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