Jack Charlton, elder brother of the legendary Bobby Charlton, with whom he became world champion with the England team in 1966, died on Friday July 10 at the age of 85. He had played thirty-five games under the English banner, as a defender.
Nicknamed "Big Jack" or "the Giraffe" and celebrated for his image as an accessible man, Jack Charlton had been elected Footballer of the Year in England in 1967 by the English Association of Sports Journalists. He had spent his entire club career in Leeds between 1952 and 1973, with an historic record of 773 appearances. He had won all national honors there, including the title of champion of England, in 1969, and a Cup of England, in 1972. Despite his defensive post, he had scored for his club 96 goals, which makes it the 9e top scorer in the history of the North England club.
Minute of silence
He then continued his career as a coach, first in English clubs (Middlesbrough FC, Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle United), before becoming, in 1986, the first foreign coach of the Irish national team. Adopting a direct, physical and attack-oriented style, Charlton had taken his players very far in three major tournaments – including the 1990 World Cup, where the Irish reached the quarter-finals. Under his leadership, Ireland also participated in the 1988 Euro and the 1994 World Cup.
This weekend's Premier League games will be preceded by a minute of silence to pay homage to the darling England defender.
