Sir Bobby Charlton, who has died aged 86, is regarded as one of Manchester United’s greatest players, having scored 249 goals in 758 appearances between 1956 and 1973. He won the European Cup with United in 1968, as well as three First Division titles.
The 1966 World Cup winner earned 106 caps for England, scoring 49 times, a goal-scoring record which he held from 1970 to 2015.
Manchester United paid tribute to Charlton, whom they called ‘one of the greatest and most beloved players in the club’s history’.
‘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, and won the 1966 World Cup.’
Charlton’s club career is most closely associated with Manchester United but he also played for and managed Preston North.
Sky Sports pundit and former Man Utd captain Gary Neville said: ‘He’s Man Utd’s greatest representative around the world and has been for 50 to 60 years. He was one of the Busby Babes, he was part of that tragic Munich air crash, he survived it and lost a lot of his team-mates and colleagues and came through. He won youth cups at Man Utd under Sir Matt Busby, then went on to win the European Cup, the World Cup and then in the more modern era was a director of the club.’
[Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/c4sd/5220920974/]