Kuolinuutinen has sparked condolences and remembrances around the world. Several leagues, clubs and individuals have remembered Charlton.
One of the greatest players in the history of Manchester United and the England national team Sir Bobby Charlton’s death has touched the footballing world.
Charlton was 86 years old. His family said Charlton “passed peacefully in the early hours of Saturday”. Charlton was diagnosed with dementia in 2020.
Charlton played 758 games for Manchester United and scored 249 goals. Just follow along Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs have surpassed Charlton’s goal tally. In the national team, Charlton played 106 matches and scored 49 times.
Charlton joined Manchester United as a schoolboy in 1953, turned professional the following year and made his first-team debut in the autumn of 1956. In the winter of 1958, he was on a plane carrying the team that crashed at Munich Airport. 23 people died in the accident, eight of which were ManU players.
– I was lucky, I happened to sit in the right place. Not a day goes by that I don’t remember that accident and those who are gone. That Manchester United was becoming one of the greatest teams in Europe. That changed everything, Charlton recalled years later when visiting Munich.
He himself made a name for himself in Manchester United and the England national team David Beckham said on Instagram that he got the chance to play for United thanks to Charlton.
Beckham was given the middle name Robert, from which Bobby is a nickname. He played as a junior at Sir Bobby Charlton’s football academy.
– It all started with Sir Bobby. I am forever grateful to the man I was named after. I adored him, who was a hero to many around the world, not just in Manchester and England.
Among Manchester United’s current players, Charlton has been honored on social media, for example Casemiro and Raphael Varane and the goalkeeper who left the club this summer David de Geawho represented United from 2011.
Charlton was involved in winning England’s only men’s world championship in 1966. Playing in midfield and attack, Charlton was one of the most important players in the world champion team, if not the most important.
From the champion team, only the one who scored a hat trick in the final match is alive Sir Geoff Hurstwho expressed his condolences to his comrade’s family and friends on the message service X.
– We will never forget him. A great colleague and friend will be deeply missed throughout the country, also outside of sports.
Head coach of the current national team Gareth Southgate told the BBC having met Charlton on several occasions for his work.
– I got to know him personally and understand the pride and feeling with which he represented England. It cements my image of him as one of football’s gentlemen.
Represented Manchester United throughout his playing career Gary Neville wrote in X that he considered Charlton the greatest English player.
– A champion on and off the field. He paved the way for all future United players. Rest In Peace Sir Bobby, Neville wrote.
Also a former England national team player Gary Lineker considers Charlton the best English player of all time.
Manager of Manchester United’s local rivals City Pep Guardiola regarded Charlton’s death as a huge loss to United and to English and European football.
– We have the Premier League because of people like Charlton.
Kuolinuutinen has sparked condolences and remembrances around the world. Several leagues, clubs and individuals have remembered Charlton.
Manchester United’s current team played an away match against Sheffield United on Saturday night. The match was supposed to hold a moment of silence first for the victims of the Gaza war and then for the memories of Sir Bobby Charton. However, the latter part turned into applause that lasted for a minute.