Robert Charlton

Sir Bobby Charlton is unanimously regarded as the greatest English footballer of all time. He was the symbol of Manchester United and of the England national team that won its only World Cup in 1966. First and foremost, Bobby Charlton was a consummate professional and a true gentleman, naturally unselfish, and this was reflected in the way he played. An attacking midfielder or second striker with a strong work ethic, he devoted himself to the team, combining excellent vision, determination, aggression, and a willingness to sacrifice. He began as a left winger before moving centrally, both as a forward and as an attacking midfielder, a role that suited him perfectly as it allowed him to combine his playmaking abilities with those of a natural goalscorer, thanks to his outstanding instinct for goal and his powerful shot. Alongside the prolific Scottish striker Denis Law and the brilliant Northern Irish talent George Best, he formed an incredibly strong and complementary trio that drove Manchester United’s success in the 1960s. At international level, together with Banks and Moore, two other world-class players, he formed the backbone of what remains the greatest England side in history. His brother Jack was also a highly accomplished professional footballer, though very different in style, more rugged, aggressive, and uncompromising, qualities that made him an experienced and reliable stopper as well as a symbol of Leeds United during the 1950s and 1960s.