The death of football icon Sir Bobby Charlton is not only causing great sadness in England. Active and former professionals, politicians and officials pay tribute to the 1966 world champion.
The encounter with the young Franz Beckenbauer at Wembley Stadium was somewhat confusing for Bobby Charlton.
“I had waited all my life to play in a World Cup final,” the English football icon once said. And then he should man-mark the previously outstanding German – he of all people, the goalscorer. “But when the kick-off sounded, Franz Beckenbauer came straight to me – he had received the same instructions,” said Charlton.
The two, who would be described as superstars in today’s football circus, largely neutralized each other in the 1966 final, which was bitter for Germany, and Beckenbauer later said: “England could only win against us in 1966 because Bobby Charlton was a little bit better than me.” Charlton died on Saturday morning surrounded by his family at the age of 86. Not just England, but the entire football world is mourning.
“I have to say: Next to Pelé, Bobby Charlton was the greatest footballer we have had in the world,” said former national coach Berti Vogts to the German Press Agency on Sunday. He met the Manchester United professional, revered as a national hero in England, in the 1970 World Cup quarter-final, which Germany won 3-2 after extra time. “I have never met such a fine person as him,” said Vogts.
Minute of silence at the league game
At United’s Old Trafford stadium, where a larger-than-life statue of Charlton stands, fans laid flowers and wreaths over the weekend. The icon was remembered with a minute’s silence at Man United’s league game on Saturday evening. “We will never forget him, no one in football will,” said his former teammate Geoff Hurst, who scored three of England’s four goals in the ’66 World Cup final, including the legendary Wembley goal in extra time, which – according to Interpretation – but none was. Charlton “was a great colleague and friend.”
In England, the footballer, who was knighted in 1994, shaped a generation – and their sons. “It all started with Sir Bobby,” wrote former Man United star David Beckham on Instagram, along with a childhood photo of himself with Charlton. Beckham’s father was an ardent admirer of the United player, which is why his son has “Robert” as his middle name. Former United captain Rio Ferdinand wrote that Charlton was an icon and a legend, while Gary Neville described him as “the greatest English football player and the best ambassador for Manchester United”.
Charlton played 758 competitive games for United from 1956 to 1973 and scored 249 goals. The offensive player was a key player in the Busby Babes, coach Matt Busby’s legendary United team, which, among other things, won the European Cup in 1968. Charlton repeatedly described the fact that it could happen like this as great luck – also because of 1958.
Charlton was one of the 21 survivors in the United team’s plane crash at Munich-Riem Airport, in which 23 people died. “I was just lucky that I was in the right seat,” he said later. “It was just a nightmare.” The Munich club president Herbert Hainer said on Saturday: “FC Bayern will forever remember the memory of this unique footballer and person.” Sir Bobby was “a gift for everyone who loves the beauty of football.”
Kane: “He’s a legend”
Even decades after his career ended, Charlton was the Three Lions’ record scorer with 49 goals, who have been waiting for a title since 1966. So far he has only been overtaken by Wayne Rooney (53) and Harry Kane (61). “He is a legend,” said Bayern professional Kane on Sky on Saturday, his national coach Gareth Southgate said: “The world of football is united in its grief.”
The privilege of “meeting him on several occasions showed me the personal pride and emotion he felt in representing England,” said Southgate. “And for me it just confirmed his reputation as an absolute gentleman of football.” Before England’s international match against Malta on November 17th, the association wants to commemorate the idol at Wembley Stadium.
“He was a great person and a true gentleman who FC Bayern valued very much,” said Munich’s long-time CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Former Bayern professional and German record player Lothar Matthäus said that Charlton was “like Uwe Seeler for Germany, a role model for all football fans in England.” “He was a role model not only on the pitch, but also off it.”
Lineker emotional
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was saddened by Charlton’s death. “He has a place in history as one of the sport’s greatest players and was hugely popular,” Sunak wrote on X, formerly Twitter. FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised Charlton as a “football legend whose influence on the game has spanned generations.”
Ex-national player and TV presenter Gary Lineker was also very emotional. “For me he was England’s greatest player of all time,” Lineker said of Charlton on BBC Radio 5 Live. “I was lucky enough to see him play when I was a little boy. He was one of my heroes, a hero to many. (…) He was unique. No matter where you travel in the world, even if People don’t speak the language, they know two words – Bobby Charlton.”