Former Tottenham captain Dave Mackay has led the tributes to legendary former Spurs manager Bill Nicholson, who passed away on Saturday aged 85. Mackay played under Nicholson from 1959 to 1968 and won the first league and FA Cup Double in the modern era in 1961.
"Bill was the perfect gentleman and he was a brilliant manager," Mackay told BBC Radio Five Live.
"He took over with the club fourth from bottom and within two years we had won the Double, it didn't take him long."
Mackay added: "I was at the memorial service for Brian Clough at Derby on Thursday - they were both fantastic managers but very different in their styles.
"Bill was much quieter, but he was every bit as good. When you talk about great managers Bill is one of very few."
Alan Mullery, who played for and captained Spurs under Nicholson, told the BBC his former boss was a "genius".
"He never lost a cup final - he was a genius as far as football is concerned," said Mullery.
"When I arrived, most of the Double team were still playing and the esteem they held Bill in was unbelievable.
"The rollicking we got if we didn't play good football - we once beat Burnley 4-0 and got a telling off.
"He was just like the Jock Steins, the Bill Shanklys, the Bob Paisleys, because they had this wonderful gift of talking to people."
 |  I can still hear his wise words in my head when I am out on the training ground as a manager myself today |
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy admitted Nicholson's passing was a sad moment in the history of the club.
Levy told the Spurs website: "Bill's death is a tragedy for the whole of football but particularly so for his family and all of us at Spurs.
"He was loved by everyone at White Hart Lane and there is no doubt that he in turn loved this club.
"He will never be forgotten.
"Bill Nicholson devoted his whole life to Tottenham Hotspur and to our fans and will never be surpassed as the greatest individual in our history.
"He lifted Spurs from mediocrity to the sublime as we became the first British club to win a European trophy and to so many wonderful achievements such as that special Double of 1961."
Terry Medwin, who played 125 games under Nicholson, told BBC Sport that his former manager was revolutionary in his methods.
"He was way ahead of his time in terms of coaching," he said.
"When I arrived from Cardiff, I was used to doing training which was dominated by running - but Nicholson was doing things which most clubs hadn't even thought of.
"He also had a lovely manner with the players - he treated us as individuals and that helped us to blend as a team."
Former Spurs keeper Pat Jennings added: "When you thought of Tottenham you thought of Bill Nicholson - one of the legendary figures in football.
"He was like a father figure to me and probably the biggest influence on my life."
Martin Peters said it was the lure of playing for Nicholson that made him decide to join Spurs.
"He would encourage us to go out there and play the way we have been brought up to play, which was good for me because I was used to a similar style at West Ham.
"Bill was a major servant to English football and a fantastic man. It was an honour to serve under him."
Ex-Spurs player and manager Glenn Hoddle believes the club owes everything to Nicholson.
"Bill was Mr Tottenham Hotspur and everything the club stands for emanated from Bill, who installed the foundations.
"He always remained totally dedicated to Spurs. He had presence, he knew what he wanted, he knew how his team should and would function.
"He established the traditions of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club."
MMIX
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