English football has produced some of the best players the game has ever witnessed. With Manchester United often regarded as the biggest club in the world, if not among the top three, it is no surprise that one of England's best talents came through their ranks; that being Sir Bobby Charlton.
Speaking back in 2017, the icon of football revealed which opponent of his he considered the bravest and the toughest, two characteristics so often associated with himself.
Nowadays, when discussing football's best academies, such as Cobham and La Masia, they pop up more often than not. However, it used to be Manchester United that was the breeding ground for greatness. Notably, having produced the Class of '92, it was 40 years prior that United produced one of their best talents to date, Bobby Charlton.
The winner of the 1966 Ballon d'Or, the same year he won England's only ever World Cup, Charlton managed an impressive 606 outings for the red team in Manchester, scoring on 199 occasions. Having faced a litany of talent during his spell as a footballer from the late 50s through to the 80s, Charlton revealed which former Tottenham Hotspur and Derby player he regarded as his toughest opponent.
Bobby Charlton Revealed Toughest Opponent During his Career
The Englishman played against the likes of Pele and Eusebio
For all of Charlton's impressive feats, one of his more remarkable achievements is that, during a career that spanned across four different decades, he was only booked twice. An insight into just how talented he was, his ambidextrous abilities made him unstoppable. A survivor of the tragic Munich air disaster in 1958, the Englishman would go on to carve out one of the greatest careers of an English player ever.
Having won all there is to win during a glittering career, it speaks volumes as to just how outstanding Charlton was that he managed to stand out during an era in which Pele, Eusebio, Bobby Moore and Franz Beckenbauer all played the beautiful game.
However, despite the plethora of historic opponents Charlton faced, his toughest opponent will surprise many. Speaking to FourFourTwo back in 2008, the former Manchester United man was answering fan questions when he revealed Dave Mackay to be his biggest adversary.
'Dave Mackay was a tough customer, one of those who talked to you on the field. He was a bit caustic, he liked to goad you, and whisper in your ear: “Come on, let’s see you do something then...” He was such a brave and tough player, fantastic both at Spurs and Derby County.'
Mackay, a defensive-minded midfielder or left-back at times, played for Hearts, Tottenham Hotspur, Derby County and Swindon Town during a near-20-year playing career. A rough and combative player, he is regarded as one of Spurs' best players, having represented the club during their 1961 double-winning season.
Having won the Second Division as a player with Derby, Mackay would return six years later and win the Rams the First Division trophy as manager. Admired by all the clubs he appeared for, as well as by the people of Scotland, it is no surprise that Charlton rated him so highly.