Editing Bobby Charlton

{{Short description|English footballer and manager (1937–2023)}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2019}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = {{br entries | {{pre-nominal styles|country=GBR|KB}} | Bobby Charlton | {{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|CBE}}}}}}
| image = LondonHouseAmsterdam1966 Bobby Charlton.jpg
| caption = Charlton in 1966
| full_name = Robert Charlton
| birth_date = {{birth date|1937|10|11|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Ashington]], Northumberland, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|10|21|1937|10|11|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Macclesfield]], Cheshire, England
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=8}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Strack-Zimmermann |first=Benjamin |title=Bobby Charlton (Player) |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/17944/Bobby_Charlton.html |access-date=12 December 2022 |website=national-football-teams.com |language=en |archive-date=11 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221211062541/https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/17944/Bobby_Charlton.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
| position = [[Midfielder]], [[forward (association football)|forward]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = East Northumberland Schools
| youthyears2 = 1953–1956
| youthclubs2 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| years1 = 1956–1973
| clubs1 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| caps1 = 606
| goals1 = 199
| years2 = 1974–1975
| clubs2 = [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
| caps2 = 38
| goals2 = 8
| years3 = 1976
| clubs3 = [[Waterford F.C.|Waterford]]
| caps3 = 3
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 1978
| clubs4 = [[Newcastle KB United]]
| caps4 = 1
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 1980
| clubs5 = [[Perth SC|Perth Azzurri]]
| caps5 = 3
| goals5 = 2
| years6 = 1980
| clubs6 = [[Blacktown City FC|Blacktown City]]
| caps6 = 1
| goals6 = 1
| totalcaps = 652
| totalgoals = 211
| nationalyears1 = 1953
| nationalteam1 = [[English Schools' Football Association|England Schoolboys]]
| nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 5
| nationalyears2 = 1954
| nationalteam2 = [[England national under-18 football team|England Youth]]
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| nationalyears3 = 1958–1960
| nationalteam3 = [[England national under-23 football team|England U23]]
| nationalcaps3 = 6
| nationalgoals3 = 5
| nationalyears4 = 1958–1970
| nationalteam4 = [[England national football team|England]]
| nationalcaps4 = 106
| nationalgoals4 = [[List of international goals scored by Bobby Charlton|49]]
| manageryears1 = 1973–1975
| managerclubs1 = [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
| manageryears2 = 1983
| managerclubs2 = [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] (caretaker)
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[association football|football]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|ENG}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966 England]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[UEFA European Championship]]}}
{{Medal|3rd|[[UEFA Euro 1968|1968 Italy]]|}}
}}
'''Sir Robert Charlton''' (11 October 1937 – 21 October 2023) was an English professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as an [[attacking midfielder]], [[left winger]] or [[centre-forward]]. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.90min.com/posts/50-greatest-footballers-all-time-ranked |title=The 50 greatest footballers of all time |access-date=26 April 2023 |publisher=[[90min]] |date=13 May 2019 |archive-date=26 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426181242/https://www.90min.com/posts/50-greatest-footballers-all-time-ranked |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2017-10-08/bobby-charlton-best-football-player-ever|title=What made Bobby Charlton the best footballer ever?|work=[[Radio Times#Website|Radio Times]]|last=Barnes|author-link=Simon Barnes|first=Simon|date=8 October 2017|access-date=9 July 2018|archive-date=4 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704213036/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2017-10-08/bobby-charlton-best-football-player-ever/|url-status=live}}</ref> he was a member of the [[England national football team|England team]] that won the [[1966 FIFA World Cup]], the year he also won the [[Ballon d'Or]]. He finished second in the Ballon d'Or voting in 1967 and 1968. He played almost all of his club football at [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], where he became renowned for his attacking instincts, passing abilities from midfield, ferocious long-range shooting from both left and right foot, fitness, and stamina. He was [[caution (association football)|cautioned]] only twice in his career: once against [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] in the 1966 World Cup, and once in a league match against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].  With success at club and international level, he was one of nine players to have won the [[FIFA World Cup]], the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] and the Ballon d'Or. His elder brother [[Jack Charlton|Jack]], who was also in the World Cup–winning team, was a former [[Defender (association football)|defender]] for [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] and also for ten years was the manager of the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]].

Born in [[Ashington]], Northumberland, Charlton made his debut for the Manchester United first-team in 1956, aged 18, and soon gained a regular place in the team, during which time he became a [[Football League First Division]] champion in 1957 then survived the [[Munich air disaster]] of February 1958 after being rescued by teammate [[Harry Gregg]]; Charlton was the last survivor of the plane crash from the club. After helping United to win the [[FA Cup]] in 1963 and the Football League in 1965 and 1967, he captained the team that won the [[European Champion Clubs' Cup|European Cup]] in 1968, scoring two goals in the final to help them become the first English club to win the competition. Charlton left Manchester United to become manager of [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] for the 1973–74 season.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Bobby Charlton |encyclopedia=britannica.com/eb |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9002215 |access-date=28 January 2006 |archive-date=5 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060505045223/http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9002215 |url-status=live }}</ref> He changed to player-manager the following season. He next accepted a post as a director with [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]], then became a member of Manchester United's board of directors in 1984.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bobby Charlton |publisher=Yahoo! |url=http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/p/cp/eng/charlton.html |access-date=23 January 2006 |archive-date=21 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070321000519/http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/p/cp/eng/charlton.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

At international level, Charlton was named in the England squad for four World Cups ([[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]], [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962]], 1966, and [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]]), though he did not play in the first. At the time of his retirement from the England team in 1970, he was the nation's most capped player, having turned out 106 times at the highest level; [[Bobby Moore]] overtook this in 1973. Charlton was the long-time record goalscorer for both Manchester United and England, and United's long-time record appearance maker – his total of 758 matches for United took until 2008 to be beaten, when [[Ryan Giggs]] did so in that year's [[2008 UEFA Champions League final|Champions League final]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs nears Reds all-time record |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7382189.stm |website=[[BBC Sport]] |date=3 May 2008 |access-date=1 January 2010 |archive-date=6 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506145735/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7382189.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> With 249 goals, he was the club's highest all-time goalscorer for more than 40 years, until his record was surpassed by [[Wayne Rooney]] in 2017. He is also the third-highest goalscorer for England;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Rhett |date=13 January 2022 |title=Best English Football Team: We Ask Sir Bobby Charlton |url=https://historyofsoccer.info/best-english-football-team |access-date=5 August 2022 |website=History Of Soccer |archive-date=5 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220805092313/https://historyofsoccer.info/best-english-football-team |url-status=live }}</ref> his record of 49 goals was beaten in 2015 by Rooney, and again by [[Harry Kane]] in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Internationals - Harry Kane hits his 50th goal for England to secure draw in Germany |url=https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2022/june/internationals-harry-kane-hits-his-50th-goal-for-england-to-secure-draw-in-germany/ |access-date=14 October 2022 |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur FC |archive-date=14 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014143951/https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2022/june/internationals-harry-kane-hits-his-50th-goal-for-england-to-secure-draw-in-germany/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Early life==
Robert Charlton was born on 11 October 1937 in [[Ashington]], Northumberland, England,<ref>{{Hugman|3396|access-date=29 October 2023}}</ref> to coal miner Robert "Bob" Charlton (24 May 1909 – April 1982)<ref>England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916–2007</ref><ref>1939 England and Wales Register</ref> and Elizabeth Ellen "Cissie" Charlton (''née'' Milburn; 11 November 1912 – 25 March 1996). He was related to several professional footballers on his mother's side of the family: his uncles were [[Jack Milburn (footballer born 1908)|Jack Milburn]] (Leeds United and Bradford City), [[George Milburn]] (Leeds United and Chesterfield), [[Jim Milburn]] (Leeds United and Bradford Park Avenue) and [[Stanley Milburn|Stan Milburn]] (Chesterfield, Leicester City and Rochdale), and legendary Newcastle United and England footballer [[Jackie Milburn]] was his mother's cousin. However, Charlton credited much of the early development of his career to his grandfather Tanner and his mother Cissie.<ref>{{harvnb|Charlton|2007|p=19}}</ref> His elder brother, [[Jack Charlton|Jack]], initially worked as a miner<ref>{{harvnb|Charlton|1996|p=23}}</ref> before applying to the police,<ref>{{harvnb|Charlton|1996|p=27}}</ref> only to also become a professional footballer with Leeds United.<ref>{{harvnb|Charlton|1996|p=28}}</ref>

==Club career==
On 9 February 1953, then a [[Bedlington Grammar School]] pupil, Charlton was spotted playing for East Northumberland schools by [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] chief scout [[Joe Armstrong (football scout)|Joe Armstrong]].{{sfn|Charlton|2007|p=46}} Charlton went on to play for [[English Schools' Football Association|England Schoolboys]] and the 15-year-old signed amateur forms with United on 1 January 1953 along with [[Wilf McGuinness]], also aged 15.<ref>{{Cite book|last=White|first=John D.T.|title=The Official Manchester United Almanac|edition=1st|date=29 May 2008|publisher=Orion Books|location=London|isbn=978-0-7528-9192-7|page=2|chapter=January}}</ref> Initially his mother was reluctant to let him commit to an insecure football career, so he began an apprenticeship as an electrical engineer; however, he went on to turn professional in October 1954.{{sfn|Charlton|2007|p=62}}

Charlton became one of the famed [[Busby Babes]], the collection of talented footballers who emerged through the system at [[Old Trafford]] in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s as Matt Busby set about a long-term plan of rebuilding the club after the [[Second World War]].{{sfn|Charlton|2007|p=70}} He worked his way through the pecking order of teams, scoring regularly for the youth and reserve sides before he was handed his first team debut against [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] in October 1956 where he scored two goals in a game that finished 4–2.<ref>{{cite news |work=The Sunday Times |title=A dummy, a surge and then an unstoppable bullet of a shot (off either foot) |page=13 |department=Sport |date=22 October 2023}}</ref> At the same time, he was doing his [[National service]] with the [[Royal Army Ordnance Corps]] in [[Shrewsbury]], where Busby had advised him to apply as it meant he could still play for Manchester United at the weekend. Also doing his army service in Shrewsbury at the same time was his United teammate [[Duncan Edwards]].{{sfn|Charlton|2007|p=70}}

Charlton played 17 times for United in that first season, scoring twice on his debut and managing a total of 12 goals in all competitions,<ref>{{cite web |title='England's greatest ever': 10 games that defined Sir Bobby Charlton's career |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2023-10-21/englands-greatest-ever-10-games-that-defined-sir-bobby-charltons-career |website=ITV.com |access-date=24 October 2023 |archive-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028095224/https://www.itv.com/news/2023-10-21/englands-greatest-ever-10-games-that-defined-sir-bobby-charltons-career |url-status=live }}</ref> and including a hat-trick in a 5–1 away win over Charlton Athletic in February.<ref>{{cite web |title=Charlton Athletic v Manchester United, 18 February 1957 |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/charlton-athletic-v-manchester-united-18-february-1957-74558/ |website=11v11.com |access-date=24 October 2023 |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113133305/https://www.11v11.com/matches/charlton-athletic-v-manchester-united-18-february-1957-74558/ |url-status=live }}</ref> United won the [[list of English football champions|league championship]] but were denied the 20th century's first "double" when they controversially lost the [[1957 FA Cup Final]] to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sir Bobby Charlton CBE 1937-2023 |url=https://www.premierleague.com/news/3744629 |publisher=Premier League |access-date=24 October 2023 |language=en |archive-date=24 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024093803/https://www.premierleague.com/news/3744629 |url-status=live }}</ref> Charlton, still only 19, was selected for the game, which saw United goalkeeper [[Ray Wood]] carried off with a broken [[cheekbone]] after a clash with Villa centre forward [[Peter McParland]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Broken dreams: United and Villa in a game of two eras |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/broken-dreams-united-and-villa-in-a-game-of-two-eras-767656.html |access-date=24 October 2023 |work=The Independent |date=2 January 2008 |language=en |archive-date=22 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422062757/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/broken-dreams-united-and-villa-in-a-game-of-two-eras-767656.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Charlton was a candidate to go in goal to replace Wood (in the days before substitutes, and certainly before goalkeeping substitutes), but it was teammate [[Jackie Blanchflower]] who ended up playing in goal.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 February 2021 |title=These Football Times |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2021/02/17/danny-and-jackie-blanchflower-to-do-is-to-dare/}}</ref>

Charlton was an established player by the time the next season was fully underway, which saw United, as current League champions, become the first English team to compete in the [[European Champion Clubs' Cup|European Cup]]. Previously, [[the Football Association]] had scorned the competition, but United made progress, reaching the [[1956–57 European Cup#Semi-finals|semi-finals]] where they lost to holders [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]]. Their reputation was further enhanced the next season in the [[1957–58 European Cup]] as they reached the quarter-finals to play [[Red Star Belgrade]]. In the first leg at home, United won 2–1. The return in [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] saw Charlton score twice as United stormed 3–0 ahead, although the hosts came back to earn a 3–3 draw. However, United maintained their [[aggregate score|aggregate]] lead to reach the last four and were in jubilant mood as they left to catch their flight home, thinking of an important League game against [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolves]] at the weekend.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}

===1958 Munich air disaster===
{{Main|Munich air disaster}}

On 6 February 1958, Charlton was returning to England with the Manchester United Team after a [[1957–58 European Cup|European Cup]] match in [[Belgrade]], [[Yugoslavia]] (now [[Serbia]]), having eliminated [[Red Star Belgrade]] to advance to the semi-finals of the competition. The aeroplane which took the United players and staff home from [[Zemun|Zemun Airport]] needed to stop in [[Munich-Riem Airport|Munich]] to refuel.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hall |first=David |title=Manchester's Finest: How the Munich air disaster broke the heart of a great city |date=12 February 2009 |publisher=Transworld |isbn=978-1-4070-3343-3 |page=2 |language=en}}</ref> This was carried out in worsening weather, and by the time the refuelling was complete and the call was made for the passengers to re-board the aircraft, the wintry showers had taken hold and snow had settled heavily on the runway and around the airport. There were two aborted take-offs which led to concern on board, and the passengers were advised by a stewardess to disembark again while a minor technical error was fixed.

The team were back in the airport terminal for barely ten minutes when the call came to reconvene on the plane, and a number of passengers began to feel nervous. Charlton and teammate [[Dennis Viollet]] swapped places with [[Tommy Taylor]] and [[David Pegg]], who had decided they would be safer at the back of the plane.

The plane clipped the fence at the end of the runway on its next take-off attempt and a wing tore through a nearby house, setting it alight. The wing and part of the tail came off and hit a tree and a wooden hut, the plane spinning along the snow until coming to a halt. It had been cut in half.

Charlton, strapped into his seat, had fallen out of the cabin; when United goalkeeper [[Harry Gregg]] (who had somehow got through a hole in the plane unscathed and begun a one-man rescue mission) found him, he thought he was dead. Nevertheless, he grabbed both Charlton and Viollet by their trouser waistbands and dragged them away from the plane, in constant fear that it would explode. Gregg returned to the plane to try to help the appallingly injured Busby and Blanchflower, and when he turned around again, he was relieved to see that Charlton and Viollet, both of whom he had presumed to be dead, had got out of their detached seats and were looking into the wreckage.

Charlton suffered cuts to his head and severe [[Shock (circulatory)|shock]], and was in hospital for a week. Seven of his teammates had perished at the scene, including Taylor and Pegg, with whom he and Viollet had swapped seats prior to the fatal take-off attempt. Club captain [[Roger Byrne]] was also killed, along with [[Mark Jones (footballer, born 1933)|Mark Jones]], [[Liam Whelan|Billy Whelan]], [[Eddie Colman]] and [[Geoff Bent]]. [[Duncan Edwards]] died a fortnight later from the injuries he had sustained. In total, the crash claimed 23 lives. Initially, ice on the wings was blamed, but a later inquiry declared that [[slush]] on the runway had made a safe take-off almost impossible.

Of the 44 passengers and crew (including the 17-strong Manchester United squad), 23 people (eight of them Manchester United players) died as a result of their injuries in the crash. Charlton survived with minor injuries. Of the eight other players who survived, two of them were injured so badly that they never played again.

Charlton was the first injured survivor to leave hospital. Harry Gregg and [[Bill Foulkes]] were not hospitalised, for they escaped uninjured. He arrived back in England on 14 February 1958, eight days after the crash. As he convalesced with family in Ashington, he spent some time kicking a ball around with local youths, and a famous photograph of him was taken. He was still only 20 years old, yet now there was an expectation that he would help with the rebuilding of the club as Busby's aides tried to piece together what remained of the season.

Between Harry Gregg's death in 2020 and his own in 2023, Charlton was the last living survivor of the crash.

===Resuming his career===
[[File:Manchester United FC 1960.jpg|thumb|An illustration of the Manchester United team in 1960 (Charlton is on the far right of the back row)]]
Charlton returned to playing in a kickabout with local youths first and then in a practice match on 25 February.  He initially said "I felt as slow as an old cart horse" but then his vigour returned and he then said "I feel fine and would like to play in the cup game at West Brom".<ref>{{Cite book |last=McCartney |first=Iain |title=Manchester United 1958-68: Rising from the Wreckage |date=15 May 2013 |publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |isbn=978-1-4456-1812-8 |page=115 |language=en}}</ref>  This was an [[FA Cup]] tie against West Bromwich Albion on 1 March; the game was a draw and United won the replay 1–0. Not unexpectedly, United went out of the European Cup to [[A.C. Milan]] in the semi-finals to a 5–2 aggregate defeat and fell behind in the League. Yet somehow they reached their second consecutive FA Cup final, and the big day at Wembley coincided with Busby's return to work. However, [[Nat Lofthouse]] scored twice to give [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] a 2–0 win.

Further success with Manchester United came at last when they beat [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] 3–1 in the FA Cup final of 1963, with Charlton finally earning a winners' medal in his third final. Busby's post-Munich rebuilding programme continued to progress, with two League championships within three seasons, in 1965 and 1967. A successful (though trophyless) season with Manchester United saw him take the honours of [[Football Writers' Association|Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year]] and [[Ballon d'Or|European Footballer of the Year]] into the competition.

[[File:Manchester The United trinity.jpg|thumb|upright|The "'''[[United Trinity]]'''" statue of Charlton (right) alongside [[Denis Law]] (centre) and [[George Best]] (left) outside [[Old Trafford]]]]
Manchester United reached the [[1968 European Cup Final]], ten seasons after Munich. Even though other clubs had taken part in the competition in the intervening decade, the team which got to this final was still the first English side to do so. On a highly emotional night at Wembley, Charlton scored twice in a 4–1 win after extra time against [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] and, as United captain, lifted the trophy.

During the early 1970s, Manchester United were no longer competing among the top teams in [[Football in England|England]], and at several stages were battling against relegation. At times, Charlton was not on speaking terms with United's other superstars, [[George Best]] and [[Denis Law]], and Best refused to play in Charlton's testimonial match against [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]], saying that "to do so would be hypocritical".<ref>Crick and Smith (1990), pp. 100–101.</ref> Charlton left Manchester United at the end of the [[1972–73 Manchester United F.C. season|1972–73]] season, having scored 249 goals and set a club record of 758 appearances, a record which [[Ryan Giggs]] broke in the [[2008 UEFA Champions League Final]].

Charlton's last game for Manchester United was against [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]] on 28 April 1973. Chelsea won the match 1–0.<ref>{{cite web |title=28 April 1973 League Division One vs Chelsea |url=http://www.aboutmanutd.com/man-u-matches/28-04-1973-chelsea.html |work=aboutmanutd.com |access-date=18 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212154938/http://www.aboutmanutd.com/man-u-matches/28-04-1973-chelsea.html |archive-date=12 February 2013}}</ref> Coincidentally, this day also marked his brother Jackie's last appearance as well (for Leeds). Charlton's final goal for the club came a month earlier, on 31 March, in a 2–0 win at [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]], also in the First Division.<ref>{{cite web |title=31 March 1973 League Division One vs Southampton |url=http://www.aboutmanutd.com/man-u-matches/31-03-1973-southampton.html |work=aboutmanutd.com |access-date=18 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308132524/http://www.aboutmanutd.com/man-u-matches/31-03-1973-southampton.html |archive-date=8 March 2013}}</ref>

Charlton was the subject of an episode of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1969 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at The Sportsman's Club in central London.

==International career==
[[File:England national football team, 11 April 1959.jpg|thumb|[[England national football team]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Empire Stadium]], London 11 April 1959. From the left, standing: [[Ronnie Clayton (footballer, born 1934)|Ronnie Clayton]], [[Billy Wright (footballer, born 1924)|Billy Wright]] (captain), [[Don Howe]], [[Eddie Hopkinson]], [[Ron Flowers]], [[Graham Shaw (footballer, born 1934)|Graham Shaw]], [[Joe Shaw (footballer, born 1928)|Joe Shaw]]; front row: [[Bryan Douglas]], [[Peter Broadbent (footballer)|Peter Broadbent]], Bobby Charlton, [[Johnny Haynes]] and [[Doug Holden]].]]
Charlton's emergence as the country's leading young football talent was completed when he was called up to join the [[England national football team|England]] squad for a [[British Home Championship]] game against [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] at [[Hampden Park]] on 19 April 1958, just over two months after he had survived the Munich air disaster.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ash |first1=Russell |title=The Top 10 of Sport |last2=Morrison |first2=Ian |date=2002 |publisher=Dorling Kindersley |isbn=978-0-7513-4642-8 |pages=76 |language=en}}</ref>

Charlton was handed his debut as England romped home 4–0, with the new player gaining even more admirers after scoring a magnificent thumping volley dispatched with authority after a cross by the left winger [[Tom Finney]]. He scored both goals in his second game as England beat [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] 2–1 in a friendly at Wembley, and overcame obvious nerves on a return to [[Belgrade]] to play his third match against [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]]; England lost that game 5–0 and Charlton played poorly.

Charlton was selected for the squad which competed at the [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958 World Cup]] in Sweden, but he did not play.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Cup 1958 Group D |url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1958/wc58groupd.html |publisher=Planet World Cup |access-date=13 April 2019 |archive-date=13 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413122324/http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1958/wc58groupd.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1959, Charlton scored a [[hat-trick]] as England demolished the [[United States men's national soccer team|US]] 8–1; and his second England hat-trick came in 1961 in an 8–0 thrashing of [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]]. He also managed to score in every [[British Home Championship]] tournament he played in except [[1963 British Home Championship|1963]] in an association with the tournament that lasted from 1958 to 1970 and included 16 goals and 10 tournament victories (five shared).

===1962 World Cup===
[[File:Bobby Charlton (Inglaterra) - El Gráfico 2229.jpg|thumb|upright|Charlton on the cover of the Argentine sports magazine ''[[El Gráfico (Argentina)|El Gráfico]]'', 27 June 1962]] 
Charlton played in qualifiers for the [[1962 FIFA World Cup|1962 World Cup]] in Chile against [[Luxembourg national football team|Luxembourg]] and Portugal and was named in the squad for the finals themselves. His goal in the 3–1 group win over [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] was his 25th for England in just 38 appearances, and he was still only 24 years old; but his individual success could not be replicated by that of the team, which was eliminated in the quarter-final by [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]], who went on to win the tournament.

By now, England were coached by [[Alf Ramsey]], who had managed to gain sole control of the recruitment and team selection procedure from the [[committee]]-based call-up system which had lasted up to the previous World Cup. Ramsey had already cleared out some of the older players who had been reliant on the loyalty of the committee for their continued selection. A hat-trick in the 8–1 rout of [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] in June 1963 took Charlton's England goal tally to 30, equalling the record jointly held by [[Tom Finney]] and Nat Lofthouse; Charlton's 31st goal, against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] in October the same year, gave him the record alone.

Charlton's role was developing from traditional inside-forward to what today would be termed an attacking midfield player, with Ramsey planning to build the team for the [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966 World Cup]] around him. When England beat the [[United States men's national soccer team|USA]] 10–0 in a friendly on 27 May 1964, he scored one goal, his 33rd at senior level for England.<ref>{{cite web |title=Profile |url=http://www.englandfc.com/Profiles/php/PlayerProfileByName.php?id=216 |work=englandfc.com |access-date=18 February 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801020317/http://www.englandfc.com/Profiles/php/PlayerProfileByName.php?id=216 |archive-date=1 August 2013}}</ref>

[[File:Jimmy Greaves and Bobby Charlton.jpg|thumb|left|[[Jimmy Greaves]] and Bobby Charlton, December 1964]]
His goals became a little less frequent, and indeed [[Jimmy Greaves]], playing purely as a striker, overtook his England tally in October 1964. Nevertheless, Charlton was still scoring and creating freely, and as the tournament was about to start he was expected to become one of its stars and galvanise his established reputation as one of the world's best footballers.

===1966 World Cup===
England drew the opening game of the tournament 0–0 with Uruguay. Charlton scored the first goal in the 2–0 win over Mexico. This was followed by an identical scoreline against [[France national football team|France]], allowing England to qualify for the quarter-finals, where they defeated Argentina 1–0. The game was the only international match in which Charlton received a caution.

They faced Portugal in the semi-finals. This turned out to be one of Charlton's most important games for England. Charlton opened the scoring with a crisp side-footed finish after a run by [[Roger Hunt]] had forced the Portuguese goalkeeper out of his net; his second was a sweetly struck shot after a run and pull-back from [[Geoff Hurst]]. Charlton and Hunt were now England's joint-highest scorers in the tournament with three each, and a final against [[Germany national football team|West Germany]] beckoned.

The [[1966 FIFA World Cup final|final]] turned out to be one of Charlton's quieter days; he and a young [[Franz Beckenbauer]] effectively marked each other out of the game. England won 4–2 after extra time, with the scores tied at 2–2 after 90 minutes, and England lifted the World Cup trophy for the first time.

===Euro 1968===
Charlton's next England game was his 75th, as England beat [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]]; after two more appearances he became England's second most-capped player, behind the veteran [[Billy Wright (footballer born 1924)|Billy Wright]], who was approaching his 100th match when Charlton was starting out and ended with 105 caps.

Weeks later he scored his 45th England goal in a friendly against [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]], breaking the record of 44 set the previous year by Jimmy Greaves. He was then in the England team which made it to the semi-finals of the [[UEFA Euro 1968|1968 European Championships]], where they were knocked out by Yugoslavia in [[Florence]]. During the match Charlton struck a Yugoslav post. England defeated the [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]] 2–0 in the third place match.

In 1969, Charlton was appointed an [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] for services to football. More milestones followed as he won his 100th England cap on 21 April 1970 against Northern Ireland, and was made captain by Ramsey for the occasion. Inevitably, he scored; this was his 48th goal for his country – his 49th and final goal followed a month later in a 4–0 win over [[Colombia national football team|Colombia]] during a warm-up tour for the [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970 World Cup]], designed to get the players adapted to altitude conditions. Charlton's inevitable selection by Ramsey for the tournament made him the first – and still, to date, only – England player to feature in four World Cup squads.

===1970 World Cup===
[[File:Bobby Charlon (1970).jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Trading card]] of Charlton with England. Issued by [[Panini Group|Panini]] for the 1970 World Cup]]
Shortly before the World Cup, Charlton was involved in the [[Bogotá Bracelet]] incident in which he and Bobby Moore were accused of stealing a bracelet from a jewellery store. Moore was later arrested and detained for four days before being granted a conditional release, while Charlton was not arrested.

England began the tournament with two victories in the group stages, plus a memorable defeat against Brazil. Charlton played in all three, though was substituted for [[Alan Ball, Jr.|Alan Ball]] in the final game of the group against [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]]. Ramsey, confident of victory and progress to the quarter-final, wanted Charlton to rest.

England reached the last eight where they again faced West Germany. With England leading 2–1, Ramsey replaced Charlton with [[Colin Bell (footballer, born 1946)|Colin Bell]] in the 69th minute: Germany went on to win 3–2 after extra time. England were eliminated and, after a record 106 caps and 49 goals, Charlton decided to end his international career at the age of 32. On the flight home from Mexico, he asked Ramsey not to consider him again. His brother Jack, two years his senior but 71 caps his junior, did likewise.

Charlton's caps record lasted until 1973, when [[Bobby Moore]] overtook him; as of October 2023, he lies seventh in the all-time England appearances list behind Moore, [[Wayne Rooney]], [[Ashley Cole]], [[Steven Gerrard]], [[David Beckham]] and [[Peter Shilton]], whose own England career began in the first game after Charlton's had ended. Charlton's goalscoring record was surpassed by Wayne Rooney on 8 September 2015, when Rooney scored a [[penalty kick (association football)|penalty]] in a 2–0 win over Switzerland in a qualifying match for [[UEFA Euro 2016]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Wayne Rooney: England record is 'dream come true' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34193281 |website=BBC Sport |date=8 September 2015 |access-date=9 September 2015 |archive-date=9 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909051221/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34193281 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Style of play==

In his early years as a winger who played on the outside left, Charlton possessed great speed and agility. As he matured, Charlton was placed in an offensive midfield role where he flourished as a player. In his prime, Charlton was considered to be one of the greatest players in the world, being able to dictate a game with his accurate passing, and possessing a powerful shot with either foot, often scoring goals from a distance. Charlton also stood out for his stamina, mentality, leadership and modesty, never arguing with referees or opponents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifhof.com/hof/charlton.asp|title=Bobby Charlton - International Football Hall of Fame}}</ref>

Longtime Manchester United manager [[Matt Busby]] said of Charlton: "There has never been a more popular footballer. He was as near perfection as man and player as it is possible to be." England national team coach [[Alf Ramsey]] remarked: "He was one of the greatest players I have ever seen, very much the linchpin of the 1966 team. Early in my management, I knew I had to find a role suitable to Bobby’s unique talents. He wasn’t just a great goalscorer, with a blistering shot using either foot. Bobby was a player who could also do his share of hard work."<ref>Glory, Glory Man Utd: The Inside Story of Manchester United's League Titles; Harry Harris, 2020</ref>

==Management career and directorships==
[[File:Bobby2.jpg|thumb|Charlton at an explosives demonstration for the [[Mines Advisory Group]] and his own land mine clearance charity, Find a Better Way, in 2008]]
Charlton became the manager of [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] in 1973, signing his former United and England teammate [[Nobby Stiles]] as player-coach. His first season ended in relegation, and although he began playing again, he left Preston early in the 1975–76 season after a disagreement with the board over the transfer of [[John Bird (footballer, born 1948)|John Bird]] to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.leylandguardian.co.uk/news/big_interview_john_bird_1_163431 |title=Big Interview – John Bird |newspaper=Leyland Guardian |date=8 February 2011 |access-date=8 February 2011 |archive-date=6 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806033055/http://www.leylandguardian.co.uk/news/big_interview_john_bird_1_163431 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=no9AAAAAIBAJ&pg=2250%2C4339777 |title=Charlton wanted |newspaper=[[Glasgow Herald]] |page=24 |date=22 August 1975 |access-date=8 February 2011 |archive-date=11 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711165737/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=no9AAAAAIBAJ&pg=2250%2C4339777 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was appointed a [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]] that year and began a casual association with [[BBC]] for punditry on matches, which continued for many years. In early 1976, he scored once in three league appearances for [[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]]. He also made a handful of appearances for Australian clubs [[Newcastle KB United]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsstore.smh.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac;jsessionid=16B7ACA51B5D25A2A51DD8272D3649A3?sy=afr&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=1month&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=brs&cls=61&clsPage=1&docID=NCH120109VG3AVFURR8S |title=Fairfax Syndication Photo Print Sales and Content Licensing |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=10 November 2017 |archive-date=2 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802165411/http://newsstore.smh.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac;jsessionid=16B7ACA51B5D25A2A51DD8272D3649A3?sy=afr&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=1month&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=brs&cls=61&clsPage=1&docID=NCH120109VG3AVFURR8S |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/10/23/newcastles-rocky-football-history/ |title=Looking at Newcastle's rocky football history |date=23 October 2010 |website=Theroar.com |access-date=9 October 2017 |archive-date=2 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802203848/http://www.theroar.com.au/2010/10/23/newcastles-rocky-football-history/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Perth SC|Perth Azzurri]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://members.iinet.net.au/~jacob/wasoccer/1980Review.htm |title=footballwa.net: 1980 Competition Review |website=members.iinet.net.au |access-date=9 October 2017 |archive-date=21 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221103947/http://members.iinet.net.au/~jacob/wasoccer/1980Review.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-10258-0-0-0&sID=333773 |title=The Superstars - Football West Hall of Fame - SportsTG |website=SportsTG |access-date=9 October 2017 |archive-date=2 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802164420/http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-10258-0-0-0&sID=333773 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Blacktown City FC|Blacktown City]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sabotagetimes.com/football/man-united-legend-bobby-charlton-at-blacktown-city-other-one-game-wonders |title=Man United Legend Bobby Charlton At Blacktown City & Other One Game Wonders |website=Sabotagetimes.com |date=22 February 2015 |access-date=9 October 2017 |archive-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404003454/https://sabotagetimes.com/football/man-united-legend-bobby-charlton-at-blacktown-city-other-one-game-wonders |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

Charlton joined [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] as a director, and was briefly caretaker manager there in 1983. He then spent some time playing in South Africa.<ref>{{cite web |title=Reviews |work=Soccer Through The Years |url=http://www.soccerthroughtheyears.com/reviews.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030124024239/http://www.soccerthroughtheyears.com/reviews.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 January 2003 |access-date=20 October 2006}}</ref> He also built up several businesses in areas such as travel, jewellery and hampers, and ran soccer schools in the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and China. In 1984, he was invited to become member of the board of directors at Manchester United, partly because of his football knowledge and partly because it was felt that the club needed a "name" on the board after the resignation of Sir [[Matt Busby]].<ref>Crick and Smith (1990), pp. 181–182.</ref> In June 2005, when the American [[Glazer ownership of Manchester United|Glazer family bought Manchester United]] amidst fan opposition, Charlton apologised to the new owners: "I tried to explain they couldn't ignore the fans, who are so emotionally involved in the club, but who sometimes do go a bit too far."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ogden |first1=Mark |title=Why Manchester United supporters hate the Glazers, the club's American owners |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/37631776/why-manchester-united-supporters-hate-glazers-club-american-owners |access-date=21 October 2023 |publisher=ESPN |date=8 September 2022 |archive-date=19 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019185843/https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/37631776/why-manchester-united-supporters-hate-glazers-club-american-owners |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Personal life and retirement==
Charlton met his wife, Norma Ball, at an [[ice rink]] in Manchester in 1959 and they married in 1961. They had two daughters, [[Suzanne Charlton|Suzanne]] and Andrea. Suzanne was a weather forecaster for the [[BBC]] during the 1990s. They went on to have grandchildren, including Suzanne's son Robert, who is named in honour of his grandfather.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orme |first=Daniel |date=2024-10-07 |title=Sir Bobby Charlton left staggering amount to wife in Man Utd icon's will |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/bobby-charlton-will-manchester-united-33840082 |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=The Daily Mirror}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=The current source is [[WP:MREL]]; if anyone finds a [[WP:GREL]] source which can support this paragraph, please replace this|date=November 2024}}

In 2007, while publicising his forthcoming autobiography, Charlton revealed that he had a long-running feud with his brother Jack. They rarely spoke to each other after a falling-out between his wife Norma and his mother Cissie (who died in 1996 at the age of 83).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2156415,00.html |title=Sir Bobby reopens the family feud |access-date=27 August 2007 |author=David Smith |date=27 August 2007 |work=[[The Guardian]] |archive-date=7 February 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207193252/http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2156415,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Bobby Charlton did not see his mother after 1992 as a result of the feud.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227021718/http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/mirror-football-blog/The-mums-of-Cristiano-Ronaldo-George-Best-Ashley-Cole-Bobby-and-Jack-Charlton-Frank-Lampard-Jose-Antonio-Reyes-Theo-Walcott-and-more-Football-s-10-most-important-mothers-article351987.html |url-status=dead |title=Mother's Day special: Football's top 10 most important mothers |archive-date=27 February 2014 |website=Daily Mirror}}</ref>

Jack presented him with his [[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award]] on 14 December 2008. He said that he was "knocked out" as he was presented the award by his brother. He received a standing ovation as he stood waiting for his prize.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_of_the_year/7775752.stm |title=Sports Personality 2008: Charlton given BBC Lifetime award |website=BBC Sport |date=14 December 2008 |access-date=20 December 2008 |archive-date=14 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081214191158/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tv_and_radio/sports_personality_of_the_year/7775752.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Charlton helped to promote Manchester's bids for the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games and the [[2002 Commonwealth Games]], England's bid for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]] and [[London bid for the 2012 Summer Olympics|London's successful bid]] for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Charlton leads tributes to Banks |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/4594202.stm |access-date=28 January 2006 |date=9 January 2006 |archive-date=16 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116232425/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/4594202.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> He received a knighthood in 1994 and was an Inaugural Inductee to the [[English Football Hall of Fame]] in 2002. On accepting his award, he commented: "I'm really proud to be included in the [[National Football Museum]]'s Hall of Fame. It's a great honour. If you look at the names included I have to say I couldn't argue with them. They are all great players and people I would love to have played with." He was also the (honorary) president of the National Football Museum, an organisation about which he said: "I can't think of a better museum anywhere in the world."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ottewell |first=David |date=2009-09-08 |title=National Football Museum moves to Manchester |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/national-football-museum-moves-to-manchester-929262 |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Manchester Evening News |language=en}}</ref>

On 2 March 2009, Charlton was given the freedom of the city of Manchester. He stated: "I'm just so proud, it's fantastic. It's a great city. I have always been very proud of it."<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Bobby given freedom of city |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7919176.stm |work=BBC News |date=2 March 2009 |access-date=2 March 2009 |archive-date=3 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303143039/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7919176.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Charlton was involved in a number of charitable activities, including fund raising for cancer hospitals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.christie.nhs.uk/press/2004/080904_1.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121183112/http://www.christie.nhs.uk/press/2004/080904_1.aspx |url-status=dead |title=PNHS Press release, Sir Bobby's Hole in One For Christie's |archive-date=21 November 2010}}</ref> After visits to Bosnia and Cambodia, Charlton became involved in the cause of [[demining|land mine clearance]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mag.org.uk/news.php?s=2&p=8834 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210032430/http://www.mag.org.uk/news.php?s=2&p=8834 |url-status=dead |title=Yean Maly, CAMBODIA: Sir Bobby Charlton and Tony Hawk fly in |archive-date=10 February 2008}}</ref> and supported the [[Mines Advisory Group]] as well as founding his own charity, The Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation (formerly Find a Better Way), which funds research into improved civilian landmine clearance.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Bobby Charlton launches landmine research charity |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-15534752 |work=BBC News |access-date=18 February 2013 |date=1 November 2011 |archive-date=14 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214140927/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-15534752 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2011, Charlton was voted the fourth-greatest Manchester United player of all time by the readers of ''Inside United'' and ManUtd.com, behind [[Ryan Giggs]] (who topped the poll), [[Eric Cantona]] and [[George Best]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Giggs United's Greatest |publisher=Manchester United F.C. |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2011/Jan/Giggs-is-the-greatest.aspx?pageNo=2 |date=31 January 2011 |access-date=4 March 2011 |archive-date=23 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923152308/http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2011/Jan/Giggs-is-the-greatest.aspx?pageNo=2 |url-status=live }}</ref>

He was a member of the [[Laureus World Sports Awards|Laureus World Sports Academy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Academy Members |url=http://www.laureus.com/academy/members/140 |publisher=Laureus |access-date=2 June 2011 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720172719/http://www.laureus.com/academy/members/140 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 6 February 2012, Charlton was taken to hospital after falling ill, and subsequently had a gallstone removed. This prevented him from collecting a Lifetime Achievement Award at the [[Laureus World Sports Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/sport/charlton-has-minor-surgery-26819436.html |title=Charlton has minor surgery |website=[[Irish Independent]] |date=6 February 2012 |access-date=9 January 2020 |archive-date=29 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729014713/https://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/sport/charlton-has-minor-surgery-26819436.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 15 February 2016, Manchester United announced the South Stand of Old Trafford would be renamed in honour of Sir Bobby Charlton.<ref>{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Hirst |title=Sir Bobby Charlton Stand: Manchester United announce plans to re-name South Stand at Old Trafford |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/sir-bobby-charlton-stand-manchester-united-announce-plans-to-re-name-south-stand-at-old-trafford-a6874966.html |work=[[The Independent]] |date=15 February 2016 |access-date=7 March 2018 |archive-date=8 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308045529/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/sir-bobby-charlton-stand-manchester-united-announce-plans-to-re-name-south-stand-at-old-trafford-a6874966.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The unveiling took place at the home game against Everton on 3 April 2016.<ref>{{cite news |first=Allan |last=Valente |title=Manchester United rename stand in honour of Sir Bobby Charlton |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/10229122/manchester-united-honour-sir-bobby-charlton-ahead-of-everton-clash |publisher=Sky Sports (BSkyB) |date=4 April 2016 |access-date=7 March 2018 |archive-date=8 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308042728/http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/10229122/manchester-united-honour-sir-bobby-charlton-ahead-of-everton-clash |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2015, he received a Honorary Doctorate from the [[University of Bath]].

In October 2017, Charlton had a pitch named after him at [[St George's Park National Football Centre]] in [[Burton-upon-Trent]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/10/02/england-honour-sir-bobby-charlton-st-georges-park-training-pitch/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/10/02/england-honour-sir-bobby-charlton-st-georges-park-training-pitch/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=England honour Sir Bobby Charlton with St George's Park training pitch |work=The Telegraph |date=2 October 2017 |first=Callum |last=Davis}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In November 2020, it was revealed that Charlton had been diagnosed with [[dementia]] and as a result, he withdrew from public life.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54770216|title=Sir Bobby Charlton: England World Cup winner diagnosed with dementia|website=BBC Sport|date=1 November 2020|access-date=1 November 2020|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101135623/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54770216|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Death==
Charlton died at [[Macclesfield District General Hospital]] in [[Macclesfield]], Cheshire, on 21 October 2023, at the age of 86, from complications of a fall he sustained at the nursing home where he resided; at the subsequent inquest, the coroner recorded his cause of death as "trauma in the lungs, a fall and dementia".<ref name = Inquest>{{cite web | title=Sir Bobby Charlton died after fall, inquest hears | website=BBC News | date=1 November 2023 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-67285478 | access-date=1 November 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Sir Bobby Charlton, giant of English football, dies at 86 |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bobby-charlton-dies-world-cup-england-football-bjm9xffqs |access-date=22 October 2023 |work=The Times |date=21 October 2023 |archive-date=22 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231022063838/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/bobby-charlton-dies-world-cup-england-football-bjm9xffqs |url-status=live }}</ref> His death leaves [[Sir Geoff Hurst]] as the last surviving English player of the [[1966 World Cup final]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62989801|title=Sir Bobby Charlton: England World Cup winner and Manchester United legend dies|work=BBC Sport|date=21 October 2023|access-date=21 October 2023|archive-date=21 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021160218/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62989801|url-status=live}}</ref>

Manchester United paid tribute to Charlton at their Champions League match against [[F.C. Copenhagen|Copenhagen]] at Old Trafford three days later in a number of ways. First, United's players wore black armbands, and manager [[Erik ten Hag]] was flanked by Alex Stepney and U-21 captain [[Dan Gore]] before ten Hag laid a wreath and a minute's silence was observed before the match began. Another wreath was also laid in Charlton's seat in the director's box. In addition, the cover of United's match programme, the ''United Review'', featured Charlton on the front, and supporters laid flowers and scarves at the United Trinity.<ref>{{cite web |title=Emotional scenes as Man Utd pay tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67208991 |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=24 October 2023 |access-date=27 October 2023 |archive-date=26 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026202555/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/67208991 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The funeral took place on 13 November.  The main ceremony was at [[Manchester Cathedral]] but the procession called first at the Old Trafford stadium before going to the city centre.  Crowds lined the streets and there were about a thousand guests at the service, including [[Prince William]], [[Alex Ferguson]] and many others associated with the club.  Elegies were read by [[David Gill (football executive)|David Gill]] and Charlton's grandson William Balderston and there was a musical tribute of "[[How Great Thou Art]]" sung by [[Russell Watson]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 November 2023 |title=Sir Bobby Charlton: Final farewell at funeral of United legend |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-67402456 |access-date=16 November 2023}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
*In the episode "Taking Liberties" of the NBC American sitcom ''[[Frasier]]'', [[Daphne Moon]] ([[Jane Leeves]]), who is from Manchester, mentions that one of her uncles tried fanatically to get Charlton's autograph, "until Bobby cracked him over the head with a can of lager. Twelve stitches, and he still has the can!"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0582510/trivia?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu |title=Frasier: Taking Liberties |publisher=IMDb |access-date=10 December 2015 |archive-date=28 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231028095226/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0582510/trivia/?tab=qt&ref_=tt_trv_qu |url-status=live }}</ref>
*In the 2011 film ''[[United (2011 film)|United]]'', centred on the successes of the [[Busby Babes]] and the decimation of the team in the Munich crash, Charlton was portrayed by actor [[Jack O'Connell (actor)|Jack O'Connell]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-13157526 |work=BBC News |title=Derby actor Jack O'Connell nets Bobby Charlton role |date=21 April 2011 |access-date=21 June 2018 |archive-date=18 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118230438/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-derbyshire-13157526 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*In the episode "Munich Air Disaster" of the air crash documentary ''[[Mayday (Canadian TV series)|Mayday]]'', Charlton was interviewed as a survivor in the show, alongside [[Harry Gregg]].
*In August 2024, [[Endrick (footballer, born 2006)|Endrick]], a rising star striker from Brazil who plays for [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]], claimed Bobby Charlton was one of his idols and favourite players during a promotional interview with [[New Balance]].

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club 
!rowspan="2"|Season 
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup
!colspan="2"|League cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="18"|[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
|[[1956–57 Manchester United F.C. season|1956–57]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|14||10||2||1||colspan="2"|—||1||1||0||0||17||12
|-
|[[1957–58 Manchester United F.C. season|1957–58]]
|First Division
|21||8||7||5||colspan="2"|—||2||3||0||0||30||16
|-
|[[1958–59 Manchester United F.C. season|1958–59]]
|First Division
|38||29||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||39||29
|-
|[[1959–60 Manchester United F.C. season|1959–60]]
|First Division
|37||18||3||3||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||40||21
|-
|[[1960–61 Manchester United F.C. season|1960–61]]
|First Division
|39||21||3||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||42||21
|-
|[[1961–62 Manchester United F.C. season|1961–62]]
|First Division
|37||8||6||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||43||10
|-
|[[1962–63 Manchester United F.C. season|1962–63]]
|First Division
|28||7||6||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||9
|-
|[[1963–64 Manchester United F.C. season|1963–64]]
|First Division
|40||9||7||2||colspan="2"|—||6||4||1||0||54||15
|-
|[[1964–65 Manchester United F.C. season|1964–65]]
|First Division
|41||10||7||0||colspan="2"|—||11||8||colspan="2"|—||59||18
|-
|[[1965–66 Manchester United F.C. season|1965–66]]
|First Division
|38||16||7||0||colspan="2"|—||8||2||1||0||54||18
|-
|[[1966–67 Manchester United F.C. season|1966–67]]
|First Division
|42||12||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||44||12
|-
|[[1967–68 Manchester United F.C. season|1967–68]]
|First Division
|41||15||2||1||colspan="2"|—||9||2||1||2||53||20
|-
|[[1968–69 Manchester United F.C. season|1968–69]]
|First Division
|32||5||6||0||colspan="2"|—||8||2||2||0||48||7
|-
|[[1969–70 Manchester United F.C. season|1969–70]]
|First Division
|40||12||9||1||8||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||57||14
|-
|[[1970–71 Manchester United F.C. season|1970–71]]
|First Division
|42||5||2||0||6||3||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||50||8
|-
|[[1971–72 Manchester United F.C. season|1971–72]]
|First Division
|40||8||7||2||6||2||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||53||12
|-
|[[1972–73 Manchester United F.C. season|1972–73]]
|First Division
|36||6||1||0||4||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||41||7
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!606!!199!!78!!19!!24!!7!!45!!22!!5!!2!!758!!249
|-
|[[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
|[[1974–75 Football League|1974–75]]
|[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]]
|38||8||4||1||3||1||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||45||10
|-
|[[Waterford United F.C.|Waterford United]]
|[[1975–76 League of Ireland|1975–76]]
|[[League of Ireland]]
|3||1||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||4||1
|-
|[[Newcastle KB United]]
|[[1978 National Soccer League|1978]]
|[[National Soccer League]]
|1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0
|-
|[[Perth SC|Perth Azzurri]]
|[[West Australian Football League|1979]]
|[[National Premier Leagues Western Australia]]
|3||2||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||3||2
|-
|[[Blacktown City FC|Blacktown City]]
|[[1980 National Soccer League|1980]]
|[[National Soccer League]]
|1||1||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||1
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!652!!211!!83!!20!!27!!8!!45!!22!!5!!2!!812!!263
|}

===International===
{{main|List of international goals scored by Bobby Charlton}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!width="60"|Year!!width="40"|Apps!!width="40"|Goals
|-
|rowspan="13"|[[England national football team|England]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/charlton-intl.html|title=Robert "Bobby" Charlton - International Appearances|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|access-date=9 October 2017|archive-date=10 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710163254/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/charlton-intl.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|1958
|6||7
|-
|1959
|7||5
|-
|1960
|8||6
|-
|1961
|9||6
|-
|1962
|8||1
|-
|1963
|10||6
|-
|1964
|8||2
|-
|1965
|5||2
|-
|1966
|15||6
|-
|1967
|4||2
|-
|1968
|8||3
|-
|1969
|9||1
|-
|1970
|9||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!106!!49
|}

==Honours==

'''Manchester United Youth'''
*[[FA Youth Cup]]: [[FA Youth Cup Finals of the 1950s#1953–54: Manchester United vs. Wolverhampton Wanderers (4–4 and 1–0, 5–4 aggregate)|1953–54]], [[FA Youth Cup Finals of the 1950s#1954–55: Manchester United vs. West Bromwich Albion (4–1 and 3–0, 7–1 aggregate)|1954–55]], [[FA Youth Cup Finals of the 1950s#1955–56: Manchester United vs. Chesterfield (3–2 and 1–1, 4–3 aggregate)|1955–56]]

'''Manchester United'''<ref name="Honours">{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=43993/profile.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903211508/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=43993/profile.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=3 September 2015 |title=Knight who led the charge for Ramsey's England |publisher=FIFA |access-date=26 February 2015 }}</ref>
*[[Football League First Division]]: [[1956–57 Football League|1956–57]], [[1964–65 Football League|1964–65]], [[1966–67 Football League|1966–67]]
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1962–63 FA Cup|1962–63]]; runner-up: [[1956–57 FA Cup|1956–57]], [[1957–58 FA Cup|1957–58]]
*[[FA Charity Shield]]: [[1965 FA Charity Shield|1965]], [[1967 FA Charity Shield|1967]]
*[[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]: [[1967–68 European Cup|1967–68]]

'''England'''<ref name="Honours"/>
*[[FIFA World Cup]]: [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]
*[[UEFA European Championship]] third place: [[UEFA Euro 1968|1968]]
*[[British Home Championship]] (outright): [[1961 British Home Championship|1961]], [[1965 British Home Championship|1965]], [[1966 British Home Championship|1966]], [[1968 British Home Championship|1968]], [[1969 British Home Championship|1969]]
**(shared) [[1958 British Home Championship|1958]], [[1959 British Home Championship|1959]], [[1960 British Home Championship|1960]], [[1964 British Home Championship|1964]], [[1970 British Home Championship|1970]]

'''Individual'''<ref name="Honours"/>
*''FUWO European Team of the Year'': 1965,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcc-supporters.org/fuwo/files/FUWO%201966/FUWO%201966%2001.pdf |website=FCC-Wiki|title=FUWO 1966|access-date=23 April 2024 }}</ref> 1966,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcc-supporters.org/fuwo/files/FUWO%201967/FUWO%201967%2002.pdf |website=FCC-Wiki|title=FUWO 1967|access-date=23 April 2024 }}</ref> 1967,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcc-supporters.org/fuwo/files/FUWO%201968/FUWO%201968%20%2002.pdf |website=FCC-Wiki|title=FUWO 1968|access-date=23 April 2024 }}</ref> 1968<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fcc-supporters.org/fuwo/files/FUWO%201969/FUWO%201969%2002.pdf |website=FCC-Wiki|title=FUWO 1969|access-date=23 April 2024 }}</ref>
*[[FWA Footballer of the Year]]: [[1965–66 in English football|1965–66]]
*[[FIFA World Cup|FIFA World Cup Golden Ball]]: 1966
*[[FIFA World Cup awards#All-Star Team|FIFA World Cup All-Star Team]]: 1966, [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970]]
*[[Ballon d'Or]]: Winner: [[1966 Ballon d'Or|1966]]; runner-up: [[1967 Ballon d'Or|1967]], [[1968 Ballon d'Or|1968]]; nominated: [[1960 Ballon d'Or|1960]], [[1961 Ballon d'Or|1961]], [[1963 Ballon d'Or|1963]], [[1965 Ballon d'Or|1965]], [[1969 Ballon d'Or|1969]], [[1971 Ballon d'Or|1971]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/europa-poy.html|title=European Footballer of the Year ("Ballon d'Or")|author1=Rob Moore|author2=Karel Stokkermans|date=21 January 2011|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=5 May 2025}}</ref>
*[[PFA Merit Award]]: 1974
*[[FWA Tribute Award]]: 1989
*FIFA World Cup All-Time Team: 1994
*[[Football League 100 Legends]]: 1998
*[[English Football Hall of Fame]]: 2002
*[[FIFA 100]]: 2004
*[[UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll]]: 14th
*[[BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award]]: 2008
*[[UEFA President's Award]]: 2008<ref name="UEFA President's Award">{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0255-0f8e705cf955-a181275bddd8-1000--uefa-president-s-award/ |title=UEFA President's Award |publisher=UEFA |date=2 January 2014 |access-date=1 June 2017 |archive-date=6 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106172739/https://www.uefa.com/news/newsid=2050865.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
*[[Laureus World Sports Awards#Lifetime Achievement Award|Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award]]: 2012
*[[FIFA Player of the Century]]:
**FIFA internet vote: 16th
**IFFHS vote: 10th
*[[World Soccer Magazine|World Soccer]] The Greatest Players of the 20th century: 12th<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html World Soccer: The 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151231035356/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/best-x-players-of-y.html#ws100 |date=31 December 2015}} Retrieved on 28 November 2015</ref>
*[[IFFHS]] Legends<ref>{{cite web |url=http://iffhs.de/iffhs-has-announced-the-48-football-legend-players/ |title=IFFHS announce the 48 football legend players |publisher=IFFHS |date=25 January 2016 |access-date=14 September 2016 |archive-date=24 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924082150/https://iffhs.de/iffhs-has-announced-the-48-football-legend-players/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

'''Orders and special awards'''
*[[Order of the British Empire|Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE)]]: 1969
*[[Order of the British Empire|Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE)]]: 1974
*[[Knight Bachelor]]: 1994
*[[Order of the Rising Sun|Order of the Rising Sun, 4th class]]: 2012<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.jfa.or.jp/eng/topics/2012/134.html |title=Sir Bobby Charlton awarded Japanese Order |access-date=18 May 2012 |date=29 April 2012 |publisher=Japan Football Association |archive-date=17 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120517113905/http://www.jfa.or.jp//eng/topics/2012/134.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps]]

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book |last=Charlton |first=Sir Bobby |title=The Autobiography: My Manchester United Years |publisher=Headline Book Publishing |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7553-1619-9 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/sirbobbycharlton0000char}}
*{{cite book |last1=Charlton |first1=Jack |first2=Peter |last2=Byrne |title=The Autobiography |publisher=[[Transworld Publishers|Partridge Press]] |year=1996 |isbn=1-85225-256-1 |ref={{harvid|Charlton|1996}} |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/autobiography0000char}}
* {{cite book |last1=Hamilton |first1=Duncan |title=Answered Prayers: England and the 1966 World Cup |year=2023 |publisher=Quercus Publishing |location=United Kingdom| isbn=9781529419986}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.ifhof.com/hof/charlton.asp International Football Hall of Fame: Bobby Charlton]
*[http://www.planetworldcup.com/LEGENDS/charlton.html Planet World Cup: Bobby Charlton]
*[http://www.stretford-end.com/united-articles/bobby-charlton-legend.html A fans view: Bobby Charlton – legend]
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/football_legends/11919.shtml BBC radio interview with Bobby Charlton, 1999]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20141112115423/http://siralexfergusonway.com/2014/11/11/club-legends-1-sir-bobby-charlton/ Sir Alex Ferguson Way - Club Legends - Sir Bobby Charlton]
* {{Englandstats | 767 }}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{1966 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{1970 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{FIFA World Cup Statistical Summary's Best Player}}
{{Inter-Cities Fairs Cup top scorers}}
{{UEFA Champions League Winning Captains}}
{{Ballon d'Or recipients}}
{{FWA Footballer of the Year}}
{{FIFA World Cup All-Time Team}}
{{European Team of the 20th Century}}
{{IFFHS Men's European Team of the 20th Century}}
{{FIFA 100}}
{{Football League 100 Legends}}
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
{{FWA Tribute Award}}
{{UEFA President's Award}}
{{Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award}}
{{BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = England squads
| bg = white
| fg = #0B0B3F
| bordercolor = #0B0B3F
| list1 = 
{{England squad 1958 FIFA World Cup}}
{{England squad 1962 FIFA World Cup}}
{{England squad 1966 FIFA World Cup}}
{{England squad UEFA Euro 1968}}
{{England squad 1970 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{Preston North End F.C. managers}}
{{Wigan Athletic F.C. managers}}
}}
{{Munich air disaster}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Charlton, Bobby}}
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:2023 deaths]]
[[Category:1958 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1962 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1966 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1970 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:20th-century British Army personnel]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths from falls]]
[[Category:Accidental deaths in England]]
[[Category:Association football people awarded knighthoods]]
[[Category:BBC Sports Personality Lifetime Achievement Award recipients]]
[[Category:Ballon d'Or winners]]
[[Category:Bangor City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Blacktown City FC players]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Deaths from dementia in England]]
[[Category:England men's international footballers]]
[[Category:FIFA World Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:England men's under-23 international footballers]]
[[Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:English Football League representative players]]
[[Category:English autobiographers]]
[[Category:English expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Australia]]
[[Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Ireland]]
[[Category:English expatriate sportspeople in South Africa]]
[[Category:English football managers]]
[[Category:English knights]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's association footballers in the Republic of Ireland]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in Australia]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in South Africa]]
[[Category:FIFA 100]]
[[Category:FIFA Men's Century Club]]
[[Category:Footballers from Ashington]]
[[Category:Knights Bachelor]]
[[Category:Laureus World Sports Awards winners]]
[[Category:League of Ireland players]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Newcastle KB United players]]
[[Category:People educated at Bedlingtonshire Community High School]]
[[Category:Preston North End F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Preston North End F.C. players]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Rising Sun, 4th class]]
[[Category:Royal Army Ordnance Corps soldiers]]
[[Category:Survivors of aviation accidents or incidents]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1968 players]]
[[Category:Waterford F.C. players]]
[[Category:Wigan Athletic F.C. managers]]