Roy of the Rovers brought to life
World Soccer|December 2023
Bobby Charlton was a genius on the pitch and a gentleman off it
Keir RADNEDGE
Roy of the Rovers brought to life

Sir Bobby Charlton spanned multiple football generations. This may help account for the outpouring of sorrow, appreciation and gratitude on his death. His passing, at 86, was not unexpected but no less painful, above all for family and friends, but also for a game too often lacking in the qualities he epitomised.

Three years ago, his family had announced his dementia diagnosis, the fifth member of England’s 1966 World Cup winning XI to fall victim to “the long goodbye.” His elder brother and England team-mate Jack died from a similar condition in 2020. Sir Geoff Hurst is now the last survivor from that Wembley side of July 30, 1966.

Charlton’s death provoked an immense sense of shock and loss. Not only in England – for many years, the name “Bobby Charlton” was sufficient to generate happy smiles of welcome whenever English tourists travelled abroad, as they did far less frequently back then.

Charlton represented the best of all of us. He was the pride of England. He rose to teenage fame in a time when football was rarely seen on television, other than the FA Cup final and occasional snatches of England internationals or exotic ties in the new-fangled European Cup.

It was in this context that Manchester United’s Busby Babes, personifying the hopes of an optimistic new post-war generation, exploded on an English Football League whose standout heroes had been the likes of Wolves’ Billy Wright, Preston’s Tom Finney, Bolton’s Nat Lofthouse and, above all, Stanley Matthews.

Esta historia es de la edición December 2023 de World Soccer.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición December 2023 de World Soccer.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE WORLD SOCCERVer todo
Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
World Soccer

Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer

There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer

time-read
5 minutos  |
July 2024
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
World Soccer

Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer

The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role

time-read
4 minutos  |
July 2024
Inter cruise to title number 20
World Soccer

Inter cruise to title number 20

Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals

time-read
3 minutos  |
July 2024
HAT-TRICK HERO
World Soccer

HAT-TRICK HERO

Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final

time-read
6 minutos  |
July 2024
GOING UP
World Soccer

GOING UP

The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar

time-read
6 minutos  |
July 2024
Palau soldier on alone
World Soccer

Palau soldier on alone

The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island

time-read
2 minutos  |
July 2024
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
World Soccer

Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six

As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely

time-read
3 minutos  |
July 2024
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
World Soccer

AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown

The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner

time-read
3 minutos  |
July 2024
Disasters brewing
World Soccer

Disasters brewing

There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage

time-read
3 minutos  |
July 2024
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
World Soccer

Second round of World Cup qualifying underway

Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines

time-read
3 minutos  |
July 2024