Soccer

Sir Bobby Charlton dead: Legendary 1966 World Cup winner and Man Utd hero dies aged 86

Sir Bobby Charlton, the World Cup winner and European Cup winner who’s one in every of England and Manchester United’s best ever gamers, has died on the age of 86.

Charlton, who gained the 1966 Ballon d’Or, grew to become the document goalscorer for each United and England in a profession the place he grew to become recognized for his sportsmanship and dignity in addition to his aptitude on the ball and his ferocious shot.

A survivor of the 1958 Munich (*86*) Disaster, Charlton went on to elevate the European Cup a decade later, captaining Sir Matt Busby’s workforce and scoring twice within the 4-1 win over Benfica within the ultimate.

Two years earlier, he had been a elementary a part of the one England workforce to win the World Cup, scoring each targets within the semi-final win over Portugal and enjoying in a facet alongside his brother, Jack. They stay one in every of simply two units of siblings to win the World Cup.

The son of a miner in his native north-east and a teenage prodigy, Charlton joined United at 15 and scored twice on his debut as a 19-year-old. He was one of many ‘Busby Babes’, the workforce of youthful abilities who performed attacking soccer, however eight of his teammates have been killed within the aircraft crash in Munich.

Charlton, who was on the flight, survived and went to kind a well-known attacking trio with George Best and Denis Law. He performed 758 video games for United – then a document, and a complete since solely topped by Ryan Giggs – and rating 249 targets, which solely Wayne Rooney has crushed. He gained three league titles and the FA Cup in his United profession.

He made 106 appearances for England, additionally a nationwide document on the time, and was within the squad in 4 World Cups, enjoying in three. His complete of 49 targets was probably the most by any England participant till first Rooney and then Harry Kane overtook him.

Bobby Charlton lifted the European Cup with Manchester United in 1968 (PA)

(PA Archive)

Charlton was an all-time nice for Manchester United and England (PA)

(PA Archive)

Charlton, proper, scores towards Portugal within the 1966 World Cup semi-final (PA)

(PA Archive)

The Charlton brothers Jack and Bobby, embrace on the finish of a charity match at Elland Road, Leeds, in 1985

(Getty)

Charlton subsequently managed Preston and, for nearly 4 many years, was a United director. He was identified with dementia, which his household introduced in 2020.

United mentioned in an announcement: “Manchester United are in mourning following the passing of Sir Bobby Charlton, one of the greatest and most beloved players in the history of our club.

“Sir Bobby was a hero to millions, not just in Manchester, or the United Kingdom, but wherever football is played around the world.

“He was admired as much for his sportsmanship and integrity as he was for his outstanding qualities as a footballer; Sir Bobby will always be remembered as a giant of the game.

“A graduate of our youth Academy, Sir Bobby played 758 games and scored 249 goals during 17 years as a Manchester United player, winning the European Cup, three league titles and the FA Cup. For England, he won 106 caps and scored 49 goals for England, and won the 1966 World Cup.

“Following his retirement, he went on to serve the club with distinction as a director for 39 years. His unparalleled record of achievement, character and service will be forever etched in the history of Manchester United and English football; and his legacy will live on through the life-changing work of the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation.

“The club’s heartfelt sympathies are with his wife Lady Norma, his daughters and grandchildren, and all who loved him.”


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