Sir Bobby Charlton, the legendary England and Manchester United icon, passed away on Saturday. He was one of the greatest players of all time for England and the Red Devils, surviving the tragic Munich plane crash and going on to become a global football icon.
Sir Bobby Charlton, a legendary figure in football history alongside George Best, Denis Law, Pele, and Diego Maradona, bid farewell to the world at the age of 86. Manchester United confirmed the loss in an official statement on Saturday.
Sir Bobby Charlton dies at 86
Bobby Charlton spent his entire club career at Old Trafford, representing Manchester United. He came through the youth setup of the club and progressed to become one of the greatest names in the club’s history. Charlton played for 17 seasons at Old Trafford.
At the age of 20, Charlton was part of the ‘Busby Babes’ team and miraculously managed to survive the infamous tragic air crash in Munich in 1958, which claimed the lives of 23 people, including eight United players, journalists, and supporters on board of a British Airways flight. It remains one of the most tragic accidents in football history.
Manchester United offered heartfelt condolences on the loss, extending sympathy to the family via an official announcement.
The club stated, “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.”
Sir Bobby Charlton’s career achievement
Sir Bobby Charlton is an icon in football. He made 758 appearances for Manchester United, scoring 249 goals in his entire 17 years at the club. In addition, he lifted three league titles, an FA Cup, and a European Cup.
For the Three Lions, Charlton won 106 caps, scoring 49 goals in an England shirt, leading to the 1966 World Cup triumph in England as they defeated West Germany 4-2 in the final at Wembley.
After his retirement, he served as a director of Manchester United for 39 years, and a stand at Old Trafford has also been dedicated to him in his honor.
Condolences poured in from all over the world for the loss of Sir Bobby, and the England Football Association announced a tribute would be paid to Charlton at Wembley Stadium when England plays Malta on November 17.
