Sir Bobby Charlton of Manchester United
English football legend and World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton once revealed that there was one stadium he wished he had the chance to play at during his illustrious career. The goalscoring midfielder carved out a one-of-a-kind career, surviving the Munich Air Disaster that took the lives of eight Manchester United players, to become a hero for club and country.
The Ballon d'Or winner is widely regarded as one of, if not, the greatest player to come from the British Isles, and got to compete at some of the most famous arenas in the world, with Old Trafford and the old Wembley his main homes. However, Charlton once admitted that there was one stadium he would’ve loved to have stepped out onto.
Sir-Bobby-Charlton-Manchester-United
Charlton Named the New Wembley as the Stadium He Wished to Have Played At
The home of English football opened its doors in 2007
Speaking to The Guardian in 2006, Charlton revealed his wish to have played at the new Wembley Stadium, which hadn’t yet been completed at the time of his comments. The hallowed turf of the new arena was officially opened on 9th March 2007, with the old Wembley having been demolished in 2003.
And although it had been three decades since Charlton had worn a Three Lions jersey, he admitted that he would’ve loved the chance to turn back the clock so he could compete at the soon-to-be-completed new home of English football.
It was not only Charlton who was impressed with what he was seeing either. One-time rival Franz Beckenbauer was also full of praise for the stadium's plans a little less than a year out from its grand opening.
EPL_Pele, Eusebio and Beckenbauer
"The construction itself is very impressive. It is beautiful. It is another world," the German said. "It is completely different from the old Wembley I remember but when it is finished in a few months it will be the best stadium in the world. Before I stepped inside I thought the best stadium was the new one in Munich [the Allianz Arena] but now I have changed my mind."
All statistics courtesy of England Football - accurate as of 15/07/2025.