Goalkeeper legend Ray Clemence dies – VG

This was stated by both Liverpool and Tottenham in a press release on Sunday afternoon.

– After fighting so hard, for so long, you have now found peace and no longer feel pain. The family would like to thank you for all the love and support that we have received in recent years. We all love him very much and will never forget him, the family told Clemence in a statement.

He turned 72 years old.

Clemence is considered a legend in both Liverpool and Tottenham, the two clubs he played for. With Liverpool, he won the league five times and was also involved in winning the league cup, now called the Champions League, three times.

In the photo gallery below, you can see some selected photos from Clemence’s life and career. The images are ordered from old to new.

As a Liverpool player, he also won the FA Cup, the English League Cup and the FA Charity Shield. He played there from 1967 to 1981.

In 1981 he went to Tottenham, where he won 240 games. There he was also successful, winning the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup in the 1981/82 and 1983/84 seasons, respectively. In 2014, he was inducted into the club’s “Hall of Fame”.

– One of the best goalkeepers to ever play the sport, Tottenham writes in the press release.

Clemence also represented England and won 61 matches with the flag on his chest.

In 1987 he was also awarded the MBE (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for his contribution to football.

– Very sad

Clemence was also an important contributor to Erik Thorstvedt. Clemence was central when Thorstvedt was brought up to Spurs, and he was also the Norwegian’s goalkeeping coach for a long time.

– I met him for the first time long before being at Tottenham. I think I was in a soccer shoe here in Norway, and then I went to test training at Tottenham. Then I didn’t get a work permit, but he was instrumental in the sense that they picked me up there when I actually got a work permit. And then I had him as a goalkeeping coach and as a regular coach, says Thorstvedt.

Clemence was on Tottenham’s support staff for a long time, before also leading the team for a time.

– A very nice guy, that is. He knew Ray quite well. It was always a pleasure to meet you when traveling back to White Hart Lane. It was always a pleasure meeting him, even though he was often ill, says Thorstvedt, who naturally thinks it was sad to receive the death message.

– It was very sad, but he has struggled a lot for a long time. He has been ill for many years. Then it has gotten better and worse. It has characterized it for many years. I think he was exhausted himself.

When asked how good Clemence actually was, Thorstvedt says:

– Well, I don’t know how many goals Liverpool conceded in their prime, but it wasn’t many. It was part of his huge winning machine. Winning as superior had become a habit for him, so he wanted a challenge and went to Tottenham. And there he continued to play great.

– And he and Peter Shilton played every game for the England team for a long time, so …

– a wonderful man

Ray Clemence tributes are hitting social media, and among them, Peter Shilton has written this on Twitter:

– I am devastated to receive the news that Ray Clemence is gone. We were rivals, but good friends. Ray was a wonderful goalkeeper with a great sense of humor. I will miss him because we have been friends long after we gave ss as players. Rest in peace my friend.

Here are a bunch of other tributes:

– Clem was my England coach for over a decade. A wonderful man with a fantastic left foot. I had a poster of him on the wall in my room when I was a kid. Rest in peace, writes former Liverpool and England goalkeeper David James in his Twitter-bill.

– I grew up watching Ray Clemence. A few years ago, I had the pleasure of having him as a guest in our studio for the FA Cup final. He was a great man, a gentleman and very kind. Rest in peace, Ray Clemence. Another hero has left us, writes Jan Åge Fjørtoft on Twitter.