The England and Manchester United legend was 86. <\/p>
The world of football is paying tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton after the English football icon died aged 86.<\/p>\n
Charlton was a legend for Manchester United and England and was a key part of the Three Lions side that won the World Cup in 1966, while he also won the Ballon D\u2019Or that same year.<\/p>\n
He scored 49 goals for England in 106 caps, a record at the time and still the third-highest of any player to represent the national team.<\/p>\n
At club level, he joined Manchester United as a youth player in 1953 and stayed there for 20 years, representing the Old Trafford side on 758 occasions in all competitions and scoring 249 times \u2013 placing him second in the all-time lists for both appearances and goals.<\/p>\n
His time in Manchester saw him win a glut of trophies including three league titles and a Europan Cip, while he would later go on to play for Preston North End \u2013 where he was player-manager \u2013 and Waterford towards the end of his career.<\/p>\n
The news of his death was announced by his family this afternoon (Saturday 21s October), with a short statement saying he \u201cpassed peacefully in the early hours of Saturday morning\u201d.\u00a0 He had previously been diagnosed with dementia in 2020.<\/p>\n
His former club Manchester United paid tribute with a statement calling him a \u00a0\u201chero to millions, not just in Manchester, or the United Kingdom, but wherever football is played around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
The statement continued: \u201cHe 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.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHis unparalleled record of achievement, character and service will be forever etched in the history of Manchester United and English football and his legacy will live on through the life-changing work of the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe club\u2019s heartfelt sympathies are with his wife Lady Norma, his daughters and grandchildren, and all who loved him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The FA also released a statement calling him \u201ca true legend of our game\u201d and signing off: \u201cWe will never forget you, Sir Bobby.\u201d<\/p>\n It is with a heavy heart that we have learned of the passing of Sir Bobby Charlton.