Manchester United and England icon Bobby Charlton dies, aged 86
HERO: Sir Bobby Charlton passed away Saturday morning at the age of 86.
Manchester United and England great Bobby Charlton has died aged 86, his family have announced in a statement.
Charlton was a key member of England's victorious 1966 World Cup team and also enjoyed great success at club level with United, who became the first English club to win the European Cup in 1968.
A statement on behalf of the Charlton family said: "It is with great sadness that we share the news that Charlton passed peacefully in the early hours of Saturday morning. He was surrounded by his family."
The statement added: "His family would like to pass on their thanks to everyone who has contributed to his care and for the many people who have loved and supported him.
"We would request that the family's privacy be respected at this time."
Charlton's European Cup success at United came 10 years after the Munich air disaster, which he and team manager Matt Busby survived but which claimed the lives of eight of Charlton's team-mates.
Born in Ashington on October 11 1937, Charlton played in the World Cup final alongside his brother Jack, who died aged 85 in 2020, and won 106 caps for England, scoring 49 goals.
He made his debut for United in 1956 and went on to play 758 matches for the Red Devils, scoring 249 goals. Both were long-standing club records until they were overtaken by Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney respectively.
Sir Bobby Charlton CBE, 1937-2023.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 21, 2023
Words will never be enough.
Charlton won three league three titles and one FA Cup at Old Trafford and, after leaving United in 1973 and becoming Preston manager, he returned to Old Trafford 11 years later as a club director. He was knighted for services to football in 1994.
"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," the Premier League club said in a statement.
"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."
Broadcaster and former England striker Gary Lineker described Charlton as "England's greatest ever player" as he paid tribute to him.
"Deeply saddened to hear that Sir Bobby Charlton has died," Lineker tweeted. "A truly wonderful footballer and genuinely lovely man. A World Cup winner, (Manchester United) 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."
Lineker scored one less goal than Charlton for England, with 48 goals to the 1966 World Cup winner's 49.
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville said Charlton was the club's "greatest ambassador".
"So sorry to hear the news of Sir Bobby Charlton," the broadcaster and former England right-back tweeted.
"The Greatest English Football player and Manchester United's greatest ambassador.
"A champion on and off the pitch and a Busby Babe that paved the way for all to come at United.
"Rest In Peace Sir Bobby."
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand described Charlton as a "true gentleman".
"Icon, Legend, Great! these words are thrown around by all of us to many who 100% don't deserve them, especially when you compare them to man of Sir Bobby's calibre," Ferdinand tweeted.
"What a true gentleman of not many words, but when he spoke you stood still, stopped what you were doing and listened.
"A lot of the history was living and breathing through him and he was a constant at the club while I was there - travelling with us all over the world.
"Win, lose or draw he would be in the changing room wishing us well.
"The words he shared with me at the bottom of those stairs in Moscow, before I went up to lift the CL trophy will stay with me forever.
"What it meant to lift that trophy for Man Utd, what it meant for the fans, what it meant for us as a team and what it now meant for myself doing it as captain.
"It was a privilege for me to even get that moment with him at that specific time. Thank you Sir Bobby. Mr Manchester United."
Former England captain David Beckham referred to Charlton as a "national hero".
Beckham came through the ranks at Manchester United having attended Bobby Charlton’s Soccer School and was given the middle name Robert as his father was such a fan of the 1968 European Cup winner.
“It all began with Sir Bobby. Sir Bobby was the reason I had the opportunity to play for Manchester United… I will be forever grateful to a man I was named after, someone I looked up to and was a hero to many around the world not just in Manchester and our country where he won the World Cup in 1966,” Beckham posted on Instagram.
“A true gentleman, family man and truly a national hero… Today isn’t just a sad day for Manchester United & England it’s a sad day for football and everything that Sir Bobby represented… Our thoughts go out to Lady Norma, their daughters and grandchildren x Rest in Peace Sir Bobby x @manchesterunited @england Today our hearts are heavy.”
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