When Sir Alex Ferguson described Dave Mackay as ‘ the bravest man in the world ’ it was enough to make the eyes water . Not just with tears but also from the wincing recollections which that sentence invoked among the wonderful old footballers gathered in Edinburgh to pay their last respects to a legend of the British game when it was at its most heroic . Ferguson ’ s was among the more thunderous of the personal reminiscences at Mackay ’ s funeral . Sir Alex Ferguson gave a moving tribute to ex-Tottenham enforcer Dave Mackay at his funeral on Tuesday . Ferguson arrived at Hearts ' Tynecastle earlier in the afternoon prior to leading the tributes . Ferguson was in distinguished company , with former Manchester United man Denis Law ( back ) also present . Supporters lined the streets of Edinburgh to give the former midfielder the send-off he deserved . Pat Jennings ( middle ) was Tottenham Hotspur 's representative at the Mansfield Traquair Centre . The hearse carrying Mackay 's coffin was complete with flowers and a football to mark his passing . The cortege leaves Hearts ' stadium as the city were given the opportunity to pay their final respects . The order of service for Mackay 's funeral . Ferguson ’ s was among the more thunderous of the personal reminiscences at Mackay ’ s funeral . ' I was playing for Queen ’ s Park reserves at Tynecastle and the great Mackay was playing for Hearts reserves because he was coming back from a broken toe , ' said Fergie , himself hardly a wilting flower of Scotland in the physical challenges . 'He tackled me and I thought `` Christ '' . But in those days you had to get up . So I got up and had a look at that big barrel chest of his . He just said `` are you alright , son ? '' 'The only time I played against Dave Mackay . I ’ ll never forget it. ’ No-one at Heart of Midlothian , who Mackay captained to all three major domestic honours , will ever forget him either . Hundreds of Hearts loyalists lined the route of his final journey from the old ground , in company with the players and staff who have just restored the club to the Scottish Premier League . At Mansfield Traquiar , the former Catholic Church converted into an ornate , stained glass venue for grand occasions like this , Sir Alex described Mackay as not only brave but ‘ humble ' . The iconic image of Mackay confronting Billy Bremner of Leeds during in August 1966 . Manchester City 's Mike Summerbee grabs hold of Mackay during a 1968 Division One match . Mackay pictured during a training session at Tottenham 's White Hart Lane ground in 1967 . Click here to read Jeff Powell 's tribute to Dave Mackay : Enshrined in Tottenham folklore as 'the heartbeat ' , his iron man demeanour obscured a cultured player adored by the fans he entertained . He added : ‘ Humility is embraced by great people and Dave Mackay did that thoroughly. ’ This was not an entirely Scottish homage . Mackay won not only his homeland ’ s Footballer of the Year Award but also its English equivalent . The latter recognised his captaining of a quite wondrous Spurs team to the first post-war League and Cup double . The bravest man in the world ? Unquestionably one of the bravest in the world of football . He came back from breaking the same leg twice – both horrific fractures – to inspire FA Cup ‘ glory , glory ’ for Tottenham Hotspur . The humblest ? Perhaps his modesty worked against him attracting the attention of those who selected the Scotland team back in the hey-day . ‘ Only 22 caps for a player as good as that ? ’ Ferguson lamented . ‘ Scotland was picked by a committee with its head in the sand. ’ A Mackay scarf displayed in the back of a car in respect of the former Scotland international . Denis Law , Frank McLintock , Ian St John , Bertie Auld and John Robertson were among other Scottish icons nodding in accord . From way south of the border came these Spurs celebrants of 80 years lived with uncompromising gallantry on the pitch and uncommon courtesy off it – Pat Jennings , Cliff Jones , Terry Medwin , Alan Mullery , Alan Gilzean , Steve Perryman , Mike England , Clive Allen . Pick a team from those two glittering histories . But when so doing reflect on something else spoken by Ferguson : ‘ They talk about his great courage but he was a fantastic , skilful footballer whose intensity and desire to win would make any team. ’ And keep a place for Dave Mackay .
Dave Tottenham 's funeral was held in Edinburgh on Tuesday . Former Mackay and Hearts midfielder died earlier this month aged 80 . Ferguson said Tottenham was 'humble ' and 'modest ' Ex-Manchester United boss also questioned why Tottenham only managed to earn 22 caps for Scotland .