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English Football Legends Series

One of England's greatest ever players, Bobby Charlton won just about every honour in the game, at both club and international level.

Bobby Charlton

Clubs: Manchester United, Preston North End

Position: Forward / Midfielder

Appearances*: 644

Goals*: 207

Honours: League Championship, 3
FA Cup, 1
European Cup, 1

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* League appearances and goals only

Manchester United

Charlton was spotted playing for East Northumberland schools by Manchester United chief scout Joe Armstrong, and signed for United as a 15-year-old in 1953.

He turned professional a year later, and worked his way through the youth and reserve teams, before being given his first team debut against Charlton Athletic in October 1956.

He played 14 games for United that season, scoring twice on debut. He finished with 12 goals in all competitions, as United won the league and narrowly missed out on the Double.

They also made progress in their first ever European Cup campaign, reaching the semi-finals where they lost to Real Madrid.

Munich

By the time the 1957/58 season kicked off Charlton was an established member of side now affectionately known as the 'Busby Babes'.

United again made good progress in the European Cup and progressed to the quarter-final, where they faced Red Star Belgrade.

On 6 February 1958, the team were on their way back from Belgrade, having secured a 3-3 draw to progress to the semi-finals, 5-4 on aggregate.

The plane made a refuelling stop in Munich, Germany, but crashed on take-off, killing seven players and 14 other passengers.

Tommy Taylor, David Pegg, Roger Byrne, Mark Jones, Billy Whelan, Eddie Colman and Geoff Bent all died at the scene. Duncan Edwards died a fortnight later from the injuries he'd sustained.

Charlton suffered only minor injuries and was discharged from hospital a week later.

Not unexpectedly, United were eliminated in the next round of the European Cup, falling to Milan. They also dropped off the pace in the league, yet somehow managed to make the FA Cup final.

United took to the Wembley pitch with the nation willing them on, but went down 2-0 to a Nat Lofthouse inspired Bolton Wanderers.

Re-building

As one of the Munich survivors Bobby Charlton, along with Harry Gregg and Bill Foulkes, formed the backbone of the new side Matt Busby was putting together.

In came David Herd, Albert Quixall and Denis Law. George Best was discovered by United scout Bob Bishop and signed for the club.

In 1963, Busby's new United beat Leicester City 3-1 in the FA Cup final and Charlton finally had a winners medal in his third final.

United were league champions in 1965 and again in 1967.

World Cup Winner

In between those two triumphs was the small matter of the 1966 World Cup.

Charlton, by now an established England international, went into the tournament as Footballer of the Year and European Footballer of The Year.

He scored against Mexico in the opening rounds and got a brace against Portugal in the semi to see hosts England through to the final, where they faced West Germany.

Charlton had a quiet game in the final, but will not have minded as England ran out 4-2 winners after extra time.

European Cup winner

In 1968, ten seasons after munich, Manchester United reached the European Cup final.

Charlton captained the side and scored twice to help United to a 4-1 extra-time win at Wembley. They were the first English team to be crowned European champions.

In 1969, Bobby Charlton was awarded the OBE for services to football. In 1970, he won his 100th England cap, and was selected for the World Cup in Mexico - the first, and so far only, England player to feature in four World Cup squads.

The 1970 tournament was a disappointment, England going out to Germany in the quarter-finals. On the flight back to England, Charlton asked Alf Ramsey not to consider him for future squads.

He had made 106 appearances and scored a record 49 goals.

Career after United

The early 70s saw a decline of the great Man United side. Matt Busby had retired and United were no longer challenging for honours.

Charlton left the club at the end of the 1972/73 season, playing his last game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. He had made 758 appearances and scored 249 goals - still a record.

He became the player-manager of Preston North End in 1973, but his first season ended in relegation and he left at the end of the following season.

He later made 31 appearances for Waterford United in Ireland.

Honours

In 1984, he became a director of Manchester United, and in 1994 he received a knighthood.

He was an inaugural inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002

In 2009, Bobby Charlton he was granted the freedom of the city of Manchester.

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