Bobby Charltonlegend of Manchester United and world champion with England in 1966, died this Saturday at the age of 86. The iconic footballer had been suffering from dementia for years, which was diagnosed in 2020 and kept him away from the public spotlight.
The former footballer and coach, born in Ashington in 1937, played 758 games with the ‘red devils’ (a record until he surpassed it Ryan Giggs) for 17 seasons, in which he scored 249 goals (also a record until he broke it Wayne Rooney).
As a United player he won a European Cup, three League titles and the FA Cup. As an England international he played 106 games and scored 49 goals, winning the 1966 World Cup, the only one for the three lions team. That year he was named Ballon d’Or.
Sir Bobby Charlton CBE, 1937-2023.
Words will never be enough.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 21, 2023
Charlton, who had debuted for United in 1956, was one of the few survivors of the 1958 air tragedy, when the English team’s plane crashed in Munich and claimed the lives of eight of his companions.
Manchester United announced the death early in the afternoon after the family revealed in a statement that it occurred early this Saturday morning. ‘Words will never be enough’, says the club’s message. Something like: There will never be enough words. Neither to describe the pain of his death nor to praise the impressive career of the iconic player.
The plane crash
Along with his older brother Jack, who died in July 2020, Charlton played a key role in England’s World Cup triumph. At age 28, he started all six of the team’s World Cup games and scored three goals, including two in the semifinal victory over Portugal. Charlton also played in the 1962 and 1970 World Cups and was a member of the team for the 1958 finals.
When Charlton retired from international football in 1970, his 106 caps were an England record. That puts him seventh on the country’s current list, led by Peter Shilton at 125.
Before the famous plane crash, which would mark the rest of his life, he scored two goals in a 3-3 draw against Red Star Belgrade in February 1958 before embarking on the return flight that would end in disaster in Munich. Charlton, then 20, suffered relatively minor injuries in the accident, which claimed the lives of 23 people, including eight teammates, and returned to play within a month.
Tribune in his honor
Charlton won a First Division title in 1957 and went on to win two more, in 1965 and 1967, as well as an FA Cup in 1963. The highlight of his club career came in 1968, when he captained United to a League final victory. European Cup over Benfica, in which he scored twice.
Deeply saddened to hear that Sir Bobby Charlton has died. A truly wonderful footballer and genuinely lovely man. A World Cup winner, @ManUtd great and, for me, England’s greatest ever player. He may no longer be with us but he’ll have footballing immortality. RIP Sir Bobby. 🙌🏻
—Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 21, 2023
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After leaving United in May 1973, Charlton managed and played for Preston North End and had a spell with Waterford United in Ireland. He later served as director and caretaker manager of Wigan Athletic. Manchester United appointed him manager in 1984 and announced in February 2016 that they would name the South Stand after him. Charlton was knighted in 1994 by Queen Elizabeth II.
In November 2020, Charlton’s wife, Norma Charlton, announced that he had been diagnosed with dementia that has accompanied him until his last day.