SIR BOBBY CHARLTON CBE: 1937 – 2023

General

Words: EFL

Sir Bobby Charlton, one of the most celebrated players in the history of English football, has died aged 86.

Born in Ashington, Northumberland, Sir Bobby made his professional debut for Manchester United in October 1956. He went on to play over 750 games for the club as an attacking midfielder and will be remembered as one of the all time greats of Manchester United, England and the English Football League.

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Starting out as a young player, Charlton was known as one of the “Busby Babes” and was one of the survivors of the Munich air crash in 1958 which tragically claimed the lives of 23 people including many of his teammates and Manchester United staff members, as they travelled back from a European match with Red Star Belgrade.

Born into a footballing family, Sir Bobby was almost destined for sporting greatness, with his brother Jack also reaching great heights while playing for Leeds United and England. 

He signed for Manchester United as a schoolboy in 1953 and turned professional in 1954. The Busby Babes famously won three successive FA Youth Cups in 1954, 1955 and 1956, before going on to become key elements for United in years to come. 

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Charlton’s United debut came against Charlton Athletic at Old Trafford on 6 October 1956, with Sir Bobby scoring twice in a 4-2 victory. He would go on to score 249 goals for the club. 

During his Manchester United career he won three Football League First Division Titles in the 1956/57, 1964/65 and 1966/67 seasons, alongside an FA Cup in 1963 and the European Cup in 1968, where he scored twice and captained the side as United beat Benfica. 

A talisman for England too, Charlton scored 49 goals in 106 games for his country which, for many years, was a record he continued to hold. And of course, he played a key role in England’s famous 1966 World Cup Final winning side, which saw Sir Bobby star alongside his brother Jack, as England beat West Germany 4-2 at Wembley Stadium.

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At the end of his career, Sir Bobby moved to Preston North End where he played and managed from 1973 to 1976. In 1983 joined Wigan Athletic as a director and was briefly caretaker manager of the club, before rejoining his beloved Manchester United in 1984 on the Board of Directors where he remained for over three decades, finishing as an ambassador to the club.

Brother Jack presented him with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year lifetime achievement award back in December 2008 and he was awarded the Freedom of Manchester in 2009, with Old Trafford's South Stand renamed in his honour in February 2016.

Paying tribute, Trevor Birch Chief Executive of the EFL said:
 
“Sir Bobby Charlton will be forever known as a great of the British game. He is one of the most talented players England has produced and he is held in equal regard as an individual, for his personality, grace and sportsmanship.

“Throughout his life he was an ambassador for our sport at home and abroad and will always remain one of the giants of Football League history. We thank Sir Bobby for his contribution to football and our thoughts are with his family at this very sad time.”