Bobby Charlton has been the greatest legend of English football, and after his recent death, he will be remembered, in addition to being a great player, as a gentleman. His appearance at Manchester United predicted a great future, but his life and that of his teammates changed completely after a tragic plane crash. Charlton miraculously managed to save his life and, after several months of recovery, managed to overcome his trauma.
The memory of his deceased teammates accompanied him throughout his career, and served as the driving force to win the World Cup with England, be the best player in the world and win the first European Cup in English football.
Today in Memoirs of Football, we remember the story of Sir Bobby Charlton. Rest in peace, because life is ephemeral, but your football will always be eternal.
His beginnings at Manchester United
Robert "Bobby" Charlton was born on October 11, 1937, in Ashington, Northumberland, England. He grew up in a working class family and grew up very humbly. From an early age, Charlton developed a deep passion for football. He spent the day playing with his friends and, from a young age, developed a natural talent for the game.
Manchester United recruited him to play for their youth team in 1953, and at the age of 15, he began an eternal relationship with the club of his life. Under the guidance of renowned coach Matt Busby, Charlton's talent flourished, and he quickly established himself as a first team player. That United was full of promising youngsters like the famous Duncan Edwards and, with a squad that averaged no more than 22 years, they formed a wonderful generation known as the "Busby Babes.
Charlton's debut came in 1956, and he quickly established himself as a regular starter in the Manchester United lineup. His technical skills, physical waste, and explosive shots made him an indispensable asset for the team, which, thanks to his influence, became the most successful in England. Bobby Charlton established himself as a great attacking midfielder, and in his first season, he managed to score 10 goals and win the English League.
In that same season, Charlton and United debuted in the European Cup. The "Busby Babes" managed to reach the semifinals, where they fell to Di Stéfano's almighty Real Madrid, which won the first five editions.
The Munich Air Crash
Manchester United also participated in the following European season, and on February 6, 1958, they played a match that would change their history. The match was played in Belgrade, and Chalrton scored two goals to draw 3-3 at Red Star's home. The Busby Babes reached the semifinals, but on the flight home, they never reached their destination.
The English club had hired a private plane to return as soon as possible and, during the journey, had to stop to refuel in Munich. The aircraft's wings were loaded with ice, and the pilot tried to take off the plane without success. He tried twice, and on the third time, he failed to overcome the necessary height.
Bobby Charlton Accidente
The collision caused the death of half of the passengers and caused many serious injuries. Among them was Bobby Charlton, who was miraculously rescued by his partner, Harry Gregg.
The English promise ended up recovering from the blows, but the greatest trauma of that event was etched in his head. The loss of friends and colleagues shook him to the depths of his soul in an unfortunate event that would mark his career for life.
Charlton gradually recovered from physical injuries and, after overcoming emotional trauma, was an inspiration to his peers. United had to bring in new players, and Bobby led a club that had to rebuild practically from scratch.
The Trident of the Holy Trinity
The Mancunian team went 6 seasons without winning a title, but Charlton managed to establish himself as the biggest star in English football. The stress of the accident caused him to lose his hair, but his quality with the ball remained intact. Bobby managed to gain a place in the English team, with which he was called up for the 1958 and 1962 World Cups.
With United, he won the 1963 FA Cup and formed an unforgettable attacking trident that adopted the name of the Holy Trinity. With Denis Law, George Best, and Bobby Charlton in the team, the Red Devils rose from the ashes, won the 1965 and 1967 leagues, and ended up becoming the first English club to lift the European Cup.
World Champion with England
But before conquering the continent, Charlton conquered the world, starring in an outstanding performance in it World Cup in England held in 1966. Bobby scored a great goal against Mexico in the debut of the Three Lions, and he completed the two winning goals against Portugal in the semifinals. England became World Champion after defeating Germany 4-2 in the final, and Charlton established himself as one of the best footballers in the world after winning the Ballon d'Or.
European Cup Champion (1968)
The English legend became an icon of European football, and in 1968, he captained United by winning the long-awaited European Cup. In the Wembley final against Benfica, he scored two goals, the first that opened the scoring and the final 4-1 that certified United's victory in extra time.
A decade after the munich tragedy, Charlton raised a title that the Busby Babes were destined to conquer. The English captain decided to be absent from all public celebrations and preferred to commemorate the triumph by remembering his deceased friends.
In that same year, Charlton played in the final phase of the Italian Euro Cup, in which England finished in third place. The Ashington all-time midfielder extended his international career until the Mexico World Cup 70, where he said goodbye to the English team in its fourth World Cup.
England lost to Germany in the quarterfinals, and Bobby said goodbye as the English player with the most games and goals in the Three Lions shirt. His 106 games and 49 goals with England would end up being surpassed, but in the memory of the English, Charlton remains the best footballer in his history.
Withdrawal
Bobby Charlton continued playing until 1973, when he decided to retire from professional football. The English Legend left Manchester United after playing for 17 seasons, playing 758 games, and being the institution's top scorer with 249 goals. He maintained this honor for more than four decades until Wayne Rooney he surpassed it in 2017. With the Red Devils, he won three Leagues, an FA Cup, and the European Cup with which he crowned his career.
After his retirement, Charlton took over as player-coach at the Preston North End until 1975. In 1976, he played briefly for Waterford in the Republic of Ireland, and in 1976, he accepted a position on the board of directors of Wigan Athletic and then held the position of coach-technician during the 1982-83 season.
The Best Ambassador
In 1984, he joined the board of directors Manchester United, where he has always been at the service of the club and English football. Charlton played a prominent role in several English World Cup bids and participated in the London 2012 Olympic Games bid.
In 1994, he was awarded the title by the sir. by Queen Elizabeth II and became the best Manchester United ambassador in the world. His joy after United's comeback in the Champions League final in Barcelona has remained in history, as has his affection for future legends. Charlton earned the respect and admiration of Beckham, Rooney, or Cristiano Ronaldo, and will remain in history as one of the best players of all time.
In November 2020, it was announced that Charlton had dementia and on October 21, 2023, his death was reported at the age of 86. The football lord will be able to meet with his teammates whom he was never able to say goodbye to and will be remembered forever as a football legend.