Jack Charlton, the former Leeds and England defender who won the World Cup cup in 1966, has died, aged 85.
Charlton had been diagnosed with lymphoma in the last year and was also battling dementia.
He spent his entire 21-year playing career at Leeds, making a joint club record 773 appearances, before retiring as a player in 1973 and going on to enjoy a successful and colourful career as a manager.
One of English football’s most popular and larger-than-life characters, he had spells in charge of Sheffield Wednesday, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and the Republic of Ireland, who he guided to their first major finals at Euro 88 and two more in the space of 10 years.
A family statement read: “Jack died peacefully on Friday, July 10 at the age of 85. He was at home in Northumberland, with his family by his side.
“As well as a friend to many, he was a much-adored husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
“We cannot express how proud we are of the extraordinary life he led and the pleasure he brought to so many people in different countries and from all walks of life.
“He was a thoroughly honest, kind, funny and genuine man who always had time for people.
“His loss will leave a huge hole in all our lives but we are thankful for a lifetime of happy memories.”
Tony Cascarino, the former Ireland forward who played under Charlton, was broadcasting live on talkSPORT when the news was announced.
“A very funny man, a very sensitive man, a very loyal man, a family man,” began Casc’s immediate reaction.
“I knew he was bed-ridden over the past ten days. It’s very sad and I’d like to think I’d remember Jack for very happy reasons.
“I’ve always said we would have won the World Cup if we didn’t drink as much as Jack let us.
“He was fabulous. It feels like I’ve lost a family member.
“Out of all the years I knew Jack, he never talked about winning the World Cup once; he never mentioned it.”
George Cohen, who played alongside Charlton in the 1966 World Cup final at right-back joined talkSPORT a few months ago to praise his former Three Lions teammate: “Jack came in rather late and I remember him coming in and I found him a revelation – he was a tall guy who could run and a tall guy who understood the game.
“And because he understood the game so well, you could do things you could never have done before.”
