Sir Geoff Hurst and Gary Neville have led touching tributes to Sir Bobby Charlton, the Manchester United and England all-time great, after his tragic death at the age of 86.
Hurst, 81, who is now the only person alive from the 1966 World Cup winning team, wrote on X: ‘Very sad news today, one of the true Greats Sir Bobby Charlton has passed away.
‘We will never forget him & nor will all of football. A great colleague & friend he will be sorely missed by all of the country beyond sport alone Condolences to his family & friends from Geoff and Judith.’
Former Manchester United player Gary Neville also wrote on social media: ‘So sorry to hear the news of Sir Bobby Charlton.
‘The Greatest English Football player and Manchester United’s greatest ambassador. A champion on and off the pitch and a Busby Babe that paved the way for all to come at United. Rest In Peace Sir Bobby.’
Sir Geoff Hurst, pictured right, has led tributes honouring England legend Sir Bobby Charlton
Tributes have been paid to Manchester United and England all-time great Sir Bobby Charlton
Charlton won the World Cup with the Three Lions in 1966 (pictured: Charlton with the trophy)
Sir Hurst, 81, wrote on social media: ‘We will never forget him & nor will all of football’
Manchester United also posted a tribute on social media to the late Bobby Charlton
Paying their tributes to the footballing legend, the Man United twitter account wrote: ‘Manchester United are in mourning following the passing of Sir Bobby Charlton, one of the greatest and most beloved players in the history of our club.
‘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 for England, and won the 1966 World Cup.
‘Following his retirement, he went on to serve the club with distinction as a director for 39 years. His unparalleled record of achievement, character and service will be forever etched in the history of Manchester United and English football; and his legacy will live on through the life-changing work of the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation.
‘The club’s heartfelt sympathies are with his wife Lady Norma, his daughters and grandchildren, and all who loved him.’
The legendary footballer played for United for 17 years, scoring 249 goals in 758 games
Charlton, widely viewed to be the Three Lions’ best-ever footballer, won 106 international caps and was a crucial part of the 1966 World Cup-winning side.
In his club career, he won three league titles, a European Cup and the FA Cup and spent 17 glittering years at United, where he remained on the board as a director.
A legendary United ambassador, Charlton scored 249 goals in 758 games. Despite being a midfielder, his goalscoring records for club and country stood for decades.
He was sadly diagnosed with dementia in 2020, at the age of 83.
Charlton leaves behind his adoring wife, Lady Norma, and their two children.
His brother, Jack, also a World Cup winner and a former Republic of Ireland manager, died aged 85 in 2020. He had also been diagnosed with dementia.
In 1958, Charlton survived the Munich Air Disaster, an incident that took 23 lives.
10 years later, he captained United as they lifted the European Cup. His two goals against Benfica saw United become the first England side to win the competition.
Old Trafford’s South Stand was renamed the Sir Bobby Charlton Stand in 2020.
A stand at Old Trafford, United’s home ground, was named after Charlton in 2016
Charlton (third left) lifts the European Cup in 1968, the first time an English side won the trophy
Charlton (right) stands alongside his brother Jack in 1985 at Elland Road, Leeds
Charlton leaves behind his adoring wife Lady Norma (right) and their two children
Charlton is an iconic United figurehead and still revered by the club’s supporters to this day
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe joined the tributes for the former England star: ‘It’s very, very sad news for his family and for football, an absolute icon of the game here in England for what he did for his country and for Manchester United.
‘I was certainly made very aware of him at a very young age and was fortunate to meet him a couple of times, an incredible guy. What a man and it’s a real sad loss for football.
The Magpies boss also spoke about attending a Bobby Charlton soccer school when he was younger: ‘I can’t remember how old I was, but it was local, I was desperate to go.
‘I went not necessarily expecting – obviously, it was his soccer school but you don’t necessarily know you’re going to go there and meet him. Thankfully he took the session and it’s something I’ll always remember as a massive childhood memory for me because I knew he was an absolute legend of the game. My grandad used to talk about his goals and what he used to do on the pitch. Obviously I didn’t necessarily see that, but I’ve seen highlights and that was a great experience for me.
Howe joked that he didn’t spot his talent: ‘I think he thought, ‘I’m wasting my time here’. But it was a major memory for me and just to have him talk to me and show me a couple of things was great.
Roy Hodgson also shared a poignant tribute to the English football legend: ‘I was privileged to meet him on quite a few occasions. He is a true legend of the game, a true legend of English football.
‘That 1966 team is the iconic team we will always look to and it is very sad we lose another from it.
