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Sir Bobby Charlton stood for everything that was good about Manchester United, according to former manager David Moyes, who will never forget the personal support he was shown during a testing spell at the club.<\/p>\n
Fans flocked to Old Trafford on Sunday to pay tribute to former United and England great Charlton following his death aged 86.<\/p>\n
A book of condolence was opened at 10am in the International Suite and supporters laid flowers and scarves and left messages for one of the club\u2019s most famous sons.<\/p>\n
A key member of England\u2019s victorious 1966 World Cup team, Charlton also enjoyed great success at club level with United, who became the first English club to win the European Cup in 1968.<\/p>\n
Charlton won three league titles and one FA Cup at Old Trafford and, after leaving United in 1973 and becoming Preston manager, he returned to Old Trafford 11 years later as a club director.<\/p>\n
Moyes took over from Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager in the summer of 2013, but the former Everton boss left the club after just 10 months, with the team seventh in the Premier League table.<\/p>\n
Now in charge at West Ham, Moyes reflected on the support shown by Charlton during what was one of the most testing spells of his managerial career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m deeply saddened and I send my condolences to all his family. The biggest thing everybody remembers, more than anything, is how great a man he was. He was such a good man,\u201d Moyes said, quoted on West Ham\u2019s club website.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it was difficult at times at Manchester United and he was incredibly supportive and always had something to say to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe had a great wife in Lady Norma and even when I lost my job she phoned my wife up, which was really important at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you think of the greats who have come through English football, Bobby Charlton would definitely be in there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlton made his debut for United in 1956 and went on to play 758 matches for the Red Devils, scoring 249 goals. Both were long-standing club records until they were overtaken by Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney, respectively. He was knighted for services to football in 1994.<\/p>\n
It was announced on Saturday afternoon that he had died peacefully in the early hours of the morning surrounded by his family.<\/p>\n
Former team-mate Denis Law said on manutd.com: \u201cAnother sad day. What can I say. Sir Bobby was an unbelievable player and a gentleman. Manchester United meant everything to him.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat a striker of the ball he was. He could hit the ball so hard that I knew most keepers didn\u2019t stand a chance. On the rare occasion they did manage to deflect it, it would drop nicely to me to finish it off.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlong 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\u2019s what made our relationship special. I am saddened by the news, like all football fans today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Charlton\u2019s European Cup success at United came 10 years after the Munich air disaster, which he and team manager Sir Matt Busby survived but which claimed the lives of eight of Charlton\u2019s team-mates.<\/p>\n
Tributes were left at Old Trafford this weekend, one which read: \u201cThank you Sir Bobby, a hero to the worldwide football family,\u201d while a message from fan group The 1958 said: \u201cHistory, dignity and integrity is what you gave to our great club. Our promise to you is to make sure it stays.\u201d<\/p>\n
Manchester United women\u2019s manager Marc Skinner dedicated Sunday\u2019s 5-0 win at Everton to Charlton.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe changed football in my opinion, especially at my club, so that was for him and for his family,\u201d Skinner said.<\/p>\n
Born in Ashington on October 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.<\/p>\n
Charlton was diagnosed with dementia and the announcement of his condition made public in November 2020,\u00a0two days after his United and England team-mate Nobby Stiles died following his own battle with the illness.<\/p>\n
John Stiles, son of Nobby, told BBC Radio Five Live that Charlton was \u201cuncle Bobby\u201d to the family as they were growing up.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was just a beautiful man,\u201d Stiles said. \u201cWhen he used to come around as kids, he would bring Christmas presents and anytime I saw him, he would always ask me how I was doing.<\/p>\n
\u201c(He was) just one of those great people and just a pleasure to have somebody like that in your life.<\/p>\n
\u201cBobby would never brag about his achievements. Every time you saw him, the first thing he asked you was about yourself.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was no edge on him. He was just a totally humble man.\u201d<\/p>\n
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