A further homage to Sir Bobby Charlton is anticipated from Manchester United before Tuesday night’s Champions League match at Old Trafford.
In honor of one of the club’s most famous sons, Charlton, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 86, fans left flowers, scarves, and heartfelt messages at the United Trinity statue outside the stadium on Sunday.
While current manager Erik Ten Hag and others of the United team contributed their remarks at Carrington, a book of condolences was opened inside the stadium in the International Suite.
Prior to Tuesday night’s Champions League Group A encounter against Copenhagen, United stated that ongoing negotiations regarding additional memorial arrangements were taking place with Charlton’s family and UEFA.
Players are anticipated to wear black armbands, and wreaths will be placed on the Old Trafford field before the start of the game.
A crucial part of England’s World Cup-winning team in 1966, Charlton also had a lot of success with United, the first English club to win the European Cup in 1968.
In 1956, Charlton made his United debut. He went on to appear in 758 games and score 249 goals.
Both had held the club record for a very long time before being surpassed by Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney, respectively. In 1994, he was knighted for his contributions to football.
After leaving United in 1973 after winning three league titles and one FA Cup at Old Trafford, Charlton went on to manage Preston before coming back to the Red Devils eleven years later as a club director.
When David Moyes succeeded Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United’s manager in the summer of 2013, the team was sitting seventh in the Premier League. However, the former Everton manager left the club after just 10 months.
Moyes, who is currently in charge at West Ham, thought back on Charlton’s assistance during one of his most trying periods as a manager.
“I’m deeply saddened and I send my condolences to all his family. The biggest thing everyone remembers, more than anything, is how great a man he was. He was such a good man,” Moyes said, quoted on West Ham’s club website.
“For me, it was difficult at times at Manchester United and he was incredibly supportive and always had something to say to me.
“He had a great wife in Lady Norma and even when I lost my job; she phoned my wife up, which was important at the time.
“For me, he carried off all the things that Manchester United were good for. He showed the traditions, he showed exactly how it should be.
“He showed great humility wherever he went, but not only that at Manchester United, he was ultimately one of the main people in English football over the years.
“When you think of the greats who have come through English football, Bobby Charlton would be in there.”
It was announced on Saturday afternoon that Charlton had died peacefully in the early hours of the morning surrounded by his family.
Born in Ashington on Oct. 11, 1937, Charlton played in the World Cup final alongside his brother Jack – who died aged 85 in 2020 – and won 106 caps for England, scoring 49 goals.
European Cup success with United came 10 years after the Munich air disaster, which Charlton and manager Sir Matt Busby survived, but which claimed the lives of eight of his team-mates.
Former team-mate Denis Law said on manutd.com: “Another sad day. What can I say? Sir Bobby was an unbelievable player and a gentleman. Manchester United meant everything to him.
“We had many special and successful years together and he was a joy to play with. He knew where every player was on the pitch and for me, that was a dream. I knew, if Bobby had the ball, it would find me and it did.
“What a striker of the ball he was. He could hit the ball so hard that I knew most keepers didn’t stand a chance. On the rare occasion they did manage to deflect it, it would drop nicely to me to finish it off.
“Along with George (Best), our partnership was sealed. The great part of playing with Bobby and George was that if one of us was having a bad day, the other two knew and that’s what made our relationship special.
“I am saddened by the news, like all football fans today.”
Charlton was diagnosed with dementia and his condition was made public in November 2020, two days after his United and England team-mate Nobby Stiles died following his battle with the illness.
Tributes were left at Old Trafford this weekend, one which read: “Thank you, Sir Bobby, a hero to the worldwide football family.”
A message from a fan group, 1958, said:
“History, dignity and integrity are what you gave to our great club. Our promise to you is to make sure it stays.”
Manchester United Women manager, Marc Skinner, dedicated Sunday’s 5-0 win at Everton to Charlton.
“He changed football in my opinion, especially at my club, so that was for him and his family,” Skinner said.