Dens legend Alan Gilzean diagnosed with tumour

Shock among fans at news of popular former player’s brain condition

One of the stars of Dundee FC’s famous title-winning side has been diagnosed with a brain tumour.

Alan Gilzean played 190 times for the Dark Blues in the late 1950s and early 1960s, during which time he found the net on 169 occasions.

He was part of the team that won the Scottish League Championship in 1961-62 — the most famous triumph in the long history of Dundee FC.

The Coupar Angus-born striker is also considered a legend at the London club Tottenham Hotspur, for whom he made more than 340 appearances and scored 93 times.

It was at Coupar Angus Juveniles and then Dundee Violet, however, that “Gillie” first strutted his stuff, before making the move to Dens in 1957.

He was with Dundee for seven years before he made the move down to England.

Gilzean was also capped for Scotland 22 times, scoring 12 goals.

Born in 1938, the Scottish Football Association describe him as “one of the great goalgetters of his generation”.

In 1964, his solitary strike was enough to earn the national side a memorable 1-0 victory over England.

The Dens Park club was among those sending their best wishes to the Coupar Angus-born striker last night.

A statement on Dundee FC’s website said: “The thoughts of everyone at Dundee Football Club are with Alan Gilzean and his family after the club legend was recently diagnosed with a brain tumour.

“The club have been in contact with Alan’s family and they have asked for privacy at this time,” the statement added.

“We send Alan and his family all our best wishes.”

In April 2009, Gilzean was inducted into Dundee’s Hall of Fame. Among the club’s most popular former players, he has never been forgotten by Dundee’s fans and his name was immortalised in the club’s long-running cult fanzine “Eh Mind O’ Gillie”.

Fans last night joined those sending their best wishes to Gilzean.

Writing on Twitter, Niall Mackenzie said: “This is dreadful news. Thoughts with Gillie and his family.”

Dan Watson said: “Let’s all hope for a positive outcome for the one and only Gillie.”

Alan Gilzean, seen here in his Scotland strip, was part of the famous Dundee FC team that won the 1961-62 Scottish League Championship. He also went on to become a stalwart of the Tottenham Hotspur line-up.