Grief
England’s World Cup hero remains unforgotten – Bobby Charlton is dead
England mourns the death of football legend Sir Bobby Charlton. photo
© picture alliance / Daniel Karmann/dpa
Bobby Charlton celebrated his greatest successes with the national team and Manchester United. Now the 1966 world champion, revered as a national hero in England, has died.
As an icon of the English national football team, World Cup hero and celebrated goalscorer for record champions Manchester United Bobby Charlton is revered as a national hero on the island. The Munich plane disaster also shaped the Englishman’s life. Sir Bobby died on Saturday morning aged 86, the PA news agency reported, citing his family.
“A truly wonderful footballer and truly lovely man,” wrote English legend Gary Lineker about Charlton via X, formerly Twitter. “He may no longer be with us, but he will have footballing immortality.”
His former club also paid tribute to Charlton. “Sir Bobby was a hero to millions, not just in Manchester or the United Kingdom, but wherever football is played in the world,” Manchester United wrote. “He was admired as much for his sportsmanship and integrity as for his outstanding footballing abilities. Sir Bobby will always be remembered as one of the game’s greats.”
Charlton’s career began in 1956 when he was scouted by Man United. The team was then coached by the legendary Matt Busby. “The best thing I ever did was sign for this club,” Charlton said in a BBC documentary on his 80th birthday.
Survived plane crash
Early in his career, the young Charlton experienced his worst hours with the club. In February 1958, Man United were on their way home from a European Cup game in Belgrade. After a stopover in Munich, the plane had starting problems in bad weather. “We didn’t even take off,” Charlton recalled decades later, visibly moved. “We crashed into a house and I think a few other obstacles. It was just a nightmare.”
23 people died in the accident, Charlton was one of 21 survivors. “I was just lucky that I was in the right seat,” he said later. Somehow United had to carry on even after the accident. “We had to try extra hard,” said the former midfielder. That should be worth it.
Charlton’s best years began in the mid-1960s. In 1965 he won the English championship with the club. A year later he celebrated the greatest success of his career when he won the Three Lions’ only World Cup title to date with a 4-2 win against Germany at Wembley Stadium in front of Queen Elizabeth II. “It was paradise, just paradise,” enthused Charlton.
In 1968, two years after the World Cup triumph and ten years after the disaster in Munich, Manchester United won the European Cup. “It just wouldn’t have been right if Man United had never won the European Cup,” Charlton told the BBC. “But then it became standard.” The 4-1 win against Benfica Lisbon was perhaps the most emotional moment of his career. He scored two goals in the final.
Charlton ended his active career in 1973 – as the record goalscorer for England (49 goals) and Manchester United (249), as the record player for the club (758 competitive games). It was only decades later that these records were surpassed by Wayne Rooney and Ryan Giggs. The record goalscorer for England is now Bayern professional Harry Kane with 61 goals.
Charlton took on some managerial jobs and was also active as a coach for a short time. Above all, he remained loyal to his beloved club, of which he served on the board until the end. “The best part is that I get to watch all the games for free,” he once said jokingly.
Knighthood from the Queen
In 1994 he was knighted by the Queen. With his “Find A Better Way” foundation, Sir Bobby Charlton campaigned against landmines and supported prosthesis research. The good cause was always close to the modest star’s heart.
“He was always successful – but above all in helping other people,” praised England star David Beckham, who was discovered by Charlton, on his 80th birthday. “That’s what makes him so special. He’s revered on the field, but even more so off it.”
In 2020 it became known that the football icon was suffering from dementia. Sir Bobby was the fifth player from the World Cup team to be diagnosed with dementia. His teammates Nobby Stiles, Ray Wilson, Martin Peters and his brother Jack Charlton, who had already died, also suffered.
Sir Bobby Charlton is survived by his wife Norma, two daughters and several grandchildren.