The legend Sir Bobby Charlton has died at the age of 86, according to the Premier League club on Saturday.
The club announced his death in a statement: “ 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.”
Charlton had suffered a lot for 3 years as he had been diagnosed with dementia in November 2020.
Many celebrities and players started to mourn him and pay tributes to him by praising and hailing his accomplishments.
The FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, mourned Charlton and touted him as a “football legend, whose impact on the game spanned generations”
England manager Gareth Southgate said that the privilege of meeting him on several occasions allowed him to understand his personal pride and emotion in having represented England and simply confirmed in his mind his standing as one of the gentlemen of the game.
Former England and Manchester United captain David Beckham, wrote on Instagram mourning the death of Charlton : “ It all began with Sir Bobby. Sir Bobby was the reason I had the opportunity to play for Manchester United”
He added :” I will be forever grateful to a man I was named after, someone I looked up to and was a hero to many around the world not just in Manchester and our country where he won the World Cup in 1966… A true gentleman, family man and truly a national hero.”
Former England striker Gary Lineker tweeted: “A truly wonderful footballer and genuinely lovely man. A World Cup winner, (Manchester United) great and, for me, England’s greatest ever player. He may no longer be with us but he’ll have footballing immortality.”
Charlton racked up an exceptional performance as he won the European cup and the FA cup.
He scored 249 goals during 17 years as a Manchester United player , 49 goals for England and three league titles. In addition to that, He won the 1966 World Cup.
And about his personal life, Charlton met his wife, Norma Ball, at an ice rink in Manchester in 1959 and they married in 1961. They had two daughters, Suzanne and Andrea.
On the human side, He was involved in a number of charitable activities, including fund raising for cancer hospitals. After visits to Bosnia and Cambodia, Charlton became involved in the cause of land mine clearance, and supported the Mines Advisory Group as well as founding his own charity Find a Better Way, which funds research into improved civilian landmine clearance
