West Ham United icon Bobby Moore is widely regarded as one of England’s greatest players, having captained the Three Lions to their first and only World Cup triumph in 1966 and cemented his legacy as the country’s most iconic skipper.
Moore’s legacy is undeniable – he is arguably the best centre-back England has ever produced, with his calm authority at the back and ability to anticipate danger making him one of the finest defenders of his generation.
A true icon of the national team, Moore was always full of praise for his teammates and once claimed a former England midfielder could have been the greatest left-winger in the world, had he not settled for a role in the middle of the park.
Moore said his former teammate was ‘immortal’ – claiming football would never see a player like him again, as his spectacular goals and sportsmanship made him one of a kind.
Moore Praises ‘Immortal’ Bobby Charlton
Bobby Charlton - Manchester United
Football - Bobby Charlton - Manchester United - Stock Mandatory Credit : Action Images gavinadditions
Moore, writing in his Daily Mirror column, paid tribute to his former England teammate Sir Bobby Charlton following his retirement in 1973, claiming the midfielder ‘could have become the greatest left-winger the world has seen’:
“Bobby brought class and dignity to Old Trafford and fame to himself. In deepest, dustiest South America, the only two words the locals ever knew in English were Bobby Charlton.
“It was the same in the farthest corners of Europe. Everywhere he went, crowds would recognise him and wave to him, and ask for his autograph.
“His spectacular goals, his dynamic shooting, his sportsmanship; gentle, self-effacing Bobby.
“He could have become the greatest left-winger the world has seen. Instead, he settled for immortality in midfield. I shall miss him and football will not see his like again.”
Charlton and Moore were both key players in England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad, with the Man United icon scoring two crucial goals in the semi-final against Portugal.
The two Englishmen played 66 games together for the Three Lions, including at four major tournaments, with the 1970 World Cup being their last.
Charlton spent the majority of his highly decorated career at Man United and became a symbol of the Red Devils' success in the 1950s and 1960s, helping them win three league titles and the European Cup (now the Champions League) in 1968 – the club’s first in history.
He spent a total of 17 years at Old Trafford and established himself as one of the finest midfielders ever, with his attacking instincts, passing ability and powerful shooting among his standout qualities.
Charlton was also known as a true gentleman of the game, having only been cautioned twice in his career – once in a league match against Chelsea and once on international duty with England.
He is also one of just nine players in history to have won the Ballon d’Or, World Cup and the Champions League, alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane and Gerd Muller.