English soccer icon Bobby Charlton, who survived a plane crash that devastated a Manchester United team on the path to greatness and later played a crucial role in his country’s 1966 World Cup victory, has passed away at the age of 86. The news was announced by his family in a statement released by Manchester United, stating that Charlton died on Saturday (Oct 21) surrounded by loved ones.
Charlton was a highly skilled midfielder known for his powerful shot. He held the all-time leading goal-scoring record for both Manchester United (249 goals) and the English national team (49 goals) for over four decades until Wayne Rooney surpassed him.
Manchester United commented on Charlton’s passing, stating, “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 Alex Ferguson, who managed Manchester United from 1986 to 2013, lauded Charlton as the greatest player in the club’s history. He said, “Bobby Charlton is absolutely without peer in the history of the English game.”
In addition to his exceptional skill, Charlton was revered for his humility, discipline, and sportsmanship. He never received a red card during his 758 appearances for Manchester United from 1956 to 1973 or in his 106 matches for England from 1958 to 1970.
Charlton formed a formidable trio with George Best and Denis Law, known as the “Trinity,” leading Manchester United to victory in the 1968 European Cup after surviving the tragic 1958 Munich air crash, which claimed the lives of the celebrated “Busby Babes.” He also won three English league titles and one FA Cup with the club.
“For a footballer, he offered an unparalleled combination of grace, power, and precision,” said former Manchester United defender Bill Foulkes, another survivor of the Munich air crash. “It added up to a greatness and something more – something I can only call beauty.”
Charlton’s England goal-scoring record stood for 45 years until Wayne Rooney scored his 50th goal for the national team in September 2015. Charlton’s contribution to the 1966 World Cup, where he played every minute and scored crucial goals in the semi-finals against Portugal, played a significant role in England’s triumph over West Germany in the final.
Ryan Giggs surpassed Charlton’s appearance record for Manchester United in 2008, but Charlton’s goal-scoring record for the club remained unbroken until 2017 when Rooney scored his 250th goal for the team, 44 years after Charlton’s last game.
After retiring in 1973, Charlton became a coach and established a youth scheme that included future Manchester United and England star David Beckham. He later returned to Manchester United in 1984 as a director and played a pivotal role in appointing Alex Ferguson as manager in 1986, under whom the club achieved immense success.
Charlton received a knighthood in 1994 and remained an influential figure at Old Trafford, being honored with a statue alongside George Best and Denis Law. Unlike his teammate Best, Charlton avoided controversy and distractions, earning popularity that went beyond club and international allegiances.
Born on October 11, 1937, in the coal-mining town of Ashington, England, Charlton’s talent was evident from a young age. His older brother Jack, who played for Leeds and won the World Cup alongside him, recalled, “We realized Bobby was going to be a bit special as a player when he was about 5 years old. He was always kicking a football or a tennis ball against a wall, and when it bounced back, it stuck to him like a magnet.”
In 2007, Charlton revealed that his family sometimes relied on illegally caught salmon or rabbit to combat hunger. His father, also named Robert, collected washed-up coal from local beaches to supplement his income.
Charlton’s father’s dedication to his fellow miners led him to miss Charlton’s pivotal goals against Portugal in the 1966 World Cup semi-final because he didn’t want someone else to cover for him in the pit. However, he attended the final, where the Charlton brothers lifted the trophy.
Charlton began his playing career in Manchester after leaving school at 15 and made his Manchester United debut against Charlton Athletic in 1956. Within two years, tragedy struck when the Munich air crash occurred. Charlton miraculously escaped with minor head injuries and helped survivors out of the wreckage. He rushed to aid manager Matt Busby, who had promoted him to the first team, as Busby lay injured on the runway.
Unfortunately, eight members of the “Busby Babes” team, which consisted of promising young players, were among the 21 fatalities. One of the casualties was Duncan Edwards, considered one of England’s most talented players at the age of 21. Charlton later expressed his anguish and guilt for surviving while others perished.
In less than four weeks, Charlton returned to the pitch, driven by a sense of obligation to honor the memory of those who died in Munich. He played a crucial role in helping Manchester United reach the FA Cup final that season with a team hastily assembled from survivors and replacements.
Under Busby’s leadership, Charlton played a central role in Manchester United’s resurgence. The club won English league titles in 1965, 1967, and the European Cup in 1968, becoming the first English team to achieve the feat. Charlton scored two goals in the final against Benfica, which included Portuguese great Eusebio.
However, Charlton is best remembered for his contribution to the England national team’s historic triumph in the 1966 World Cup, the only major title the country has won in men’s football. Despite occasional family discord, Charlton expressed gratitude for being part of that momentous occasion alongside his brother, Jack.
In November 2020, Charlton’s diagnosis of dementia was announced, a condition that also affected his brother and fellow World Cup winner, Nobby Stiles. The news prompted an outpouring of tributes from players, including Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford, who described Charlton as a role model who possessed kindness, professionalism, care, and talent.
Bobby Charlton is survived by his wife Norma, whom he married in 1961, and their two daughters.
