- Sir Bobby Charlton was a legendary English footballer
- He is considered the greatest English player of all time
- THESE were his life and times
The world will always know Sir Bobby Charlton, an English soccer icon who survived a plane crash that decimated a Manchester United team destined for greatness to become the heartbeat of his country's 1966 World Cup-winning team, has died. He was 86. A statement from Charlton's family, released by United, said he died on Saturday surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife, Norma, whom he married in 1961, and his two daughters.
Sir Bobby was built different
An extravagantly gifted midfielder with a ferocious shot, Charlton was the leading scorer for both United with 249 goals, and England with 49 goals for more than 40 years until being overtaken by Wayne Rooney. For his time in the game, there were next to no players that could dominate the ball and transition the play so quickly, and many argue that he set the stage for the modern midfielders that dazzle the world today. Above all he was a respected figure everywhere he went, which very few players can brag of.
"Sir Bobby was a hero to millions, not just in Manchester, or the United Kingdom, but wherever football is played around the world," Manchester United said in a statement. "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." And as fans know, Old Trafford, the stadium where United play will always have the iconic Sir Bobby Charlton stand on the north end of the stadium.
A book of condolence was opened on Sunday morning in a suite at Old Trafford and will remain open until Friday. A digital version has also been created. Besides his incredible record in the game, Sir Bobby would also be known for surviving a terrible tragedy.
Charlton survived the 1958 Munich plane crash that killed 21 people, including eight members of the celebrated "Busby Babes" team, and helped United win the European Cup 10 years later. Charlton’s career was indelibly marked by a plane crash in 1958, shortly after he had become a professional player. Following a European Cup match against Red Star Belgrade, the plane on which the Manchester United team was traveling crashed in heavy snow during a refueling stop in Munich. Of the 23 who died, eight were players. Charlton, who was dragged from the wreckage by a teammate, was 21 years old at the time.
He was also a member of England's World Cup-winning team in 1966, and would inspire the likes of David Beckham to wear the England shirt as well.
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A Legend Lost
But his legacy must be really be studied with care. Charlton was famed for his bullet shot and his relentless goal scoring, even though he did not play as a traditional striker. Barely three weeks after the infamous crash, with the United manager, Matt Busby, still in a hospital in Germany, Charlton was back on the field. Because of his dignity in leading the Manchester United team through that dark period and his sportsmanship, commentators referred to him as the first gentleman of soccer.
Charlton became a director and ambassador of Manchester United in 1984. A statue of him, alongside his fabled teammates George Best and Denis Law (together they were known as the United Trinity) was erected outside Manchester United’s stadium, Old Trafford, in 2008. In 2016, the club renamed the south stand of the stadium in his honor. Charlton is also credited with giving Old Trafford its nickname, the "Theater of Dreams".
All over the world, fans in official matches honored the memory of Sir Bobby who will continue to have tributes in his name done all season, specially in England. It's tough to capture how much he meant to so many Englishmen in his time.
For now, all we can is, rest in peace Sir Bobby Charlton!
