England and Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton has passed away aged 86 after his battle with dementia.
Sir Bobby Charlton, who made 758 appearances for his club and earned 106 caps for his beloved country, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Lady Norma, their two daughters Suzanne and Andrew and grandchildren.
The talented footballer, who was born in Ashington, Northumberland, on October 11, 1937, was widely regarded as one of the most outstanding players to ever grace the game and was part of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning side.
Following his death, Sir Geoff Hurst, who famously scored a hat trick in England’s 4-2 victory over West Germany at Wembly, is now the only member of the team still alive. Former England right-back George Cohen also passed away, aged 83, in December.
A statement from the family of Sir Bobby said that it was great sadness that they shared the news that Sir Bobby passed peacefully in the early hours of Saturday morning. He was surrounded by his family.
The statement said that his family would like to pass on their thanks to everyone who has contributed to his care and to the many people who have loved and supported him. They requested that the family’s privacy be respected at this time.
Manchester United said they were mourning ‘one of the greatest and most beloved players in the history of their club’.
Sir Bobby had retired from public life since he was diagnosed with dementia in November 2020, just four months after his elder brother Jack Charlton, another 1966 icon, passed away aged 85. He was one of five of England’s 1966 winners to suffer from the debilitating disease after his brothers, Nobby Stiles, Ray Wilson and Martin Peters.
Bobby Charlton went on to have an outstanding career after surviving the Munich Air Disaster in 1958 when he was 20, which tragically killed eight of United’s Busby Babes and 23 people in total.
In a glittering 17-year spell with United, where he played as if every game was for his fallen teammates, he won three league titles, the FA Cup and captained the Red Devils when they became the first English club to win the European Cup.
Sir Bobby went on to score 249 goals for Man United, including two in the famous 1968 European Cup final win over Benfica.
This is such a sad day for football. Bobby Charlton was an absolute Legend. He was a great footballer and a real gentleman, and it was a real honour for those who watched him play – one of the undisputed greats of the sport. They definitely don’t make football players like him anymore. When men played the game for the love of it, rather than for the big bucks.
In the mad world of war, politics, global warming, greed and lack of concern for others, along comes the news of the sad death of a true Legend. A hero and above all a genuinely nice man.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 