Thousands of fans and some of the biggest names in soccer gathered to pay tribute to Bobby Charlton, one of the greatest players in English soccer history and a remarkable human being known for his humbleness and kindness.
The private service was held at Manchester Cathedral where about 1,000 guests, including former United manager Alex Ferguson,
former players Andy Cole and Paul Scholes, England manager Gareth Southgate, Prince William,
and UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, came to pay their respects to the legendary player who passed away on October 21 at the age of 86.
Charlton, who helped England win the World Cup and was one of the best players in United’s history, was remembered for his sportsmanship and his dedication to the game.
His former teammate Alex Stepney, who played alongside him for several years, described him as a great guy who was always focused on winning, even during international duty.
He was also known for his humility and his devotion to his family, and never let his fame and success get to his head.
The funeral cortege paused in front of the Trinity Statue of Charlton, George Best, and Denis Law, who together helped United become the first English club to win the European Cup in 1968.
The statue was surrounded by hundreds of bouquets and scarves, left by fans who came to pay their respects to the legendary player.
Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw, along with many other United players, attended the service to honour their former teammate.
Manager Erik ten Hag was not able to attend due to a commitment in the Netherlands.
The England team’s arrival at their training base at St. George’s Park was delayed to allow Southgate, Maguire, and others to attend the service.
Former United captain Steve Bruce described Charlton as the greatest English footballer of all time and praised him for his humility and his class as a man.
Another former United captain Bryan Robson called it a “sad day for football, for Man United and Sir Bobby’s family,” and remembered Charlton as a fantastic player and a great person.
The ceremony included tributes and eulogies from former United chief executive David Gill and former Manchester United Foundation chief executive John Shiels, as well as a personal tribute from Charlton’s family.
The hymns included “Abide With Me,” traditionally sung before the FA Cup final.
Charlton’s legacy will live on through his remarkable achievements on and off the field, including his key role in England’s World Cup victory in 1966, his 758 appearances and 249 goals for United, and his three league titles, FA Cup, and European Cup victories.
He will always be remembered as one of the greatest players in soccer history and a true gentleman who inspired generations of fans and players alike.
