GUSTAVO Augusto Poyet Dominguez was a powerful and prolific goalscoring midfielder with a reputation of exceptional aerial prowess.

After short spells in France and Argentina, Poyet burst onto the scene after a move to Spanish side Real Zaragoza in 1990 where he spent seven years.

He helped them to the Copa del Ray in 1994 and then captained the side to a Cup Winners' Cup a year later, beating Arsenal in the infamous Nayim from the halfway line' final.

He became Zaragoza's longest serving player with 240 games, scoring 60 goals, before being signed for Ruud Gullit's Chelsea on a free in June 1997.

Not long into his first season he suffered cruciate ligament damage but recovered to play in the team's Cup Winners' Cup win against Stuttgart.

The following year he contributed 14 goals, making him the club's highest scorer, to help the Blues finish third in the Premiership and in 2000 he added 18 goals as Chelsea won the FA Cup.

With the arrival of new boss Claudio Ranieri in September 2000, Chelsea were a team in transition and he requested a move.

He scored 49 goals in 145 appearances for Chelsea before moving to Spurs in May 2001 for £2.2m and, in an action that tarnished his reputation among some Chelsea fans, he kissed the Tottenham badge in front of the Chelsea fans.

He scored 14 goals in his debut season for Spurs and helped them to the League Cup final, losing 2-1 to Blackburn.

In August 2002 he again sustained cruciate damage, but still managed 23 goals in 98 games at White Hart Lane. Poyet retired in 2005.

He also won 23 caps for Uruguay and was voted player of the tournment to help his country win the Copa America in 1995.