Bobby Charlton Biography

Sir Bobby Charlton is undoubtedly one of the greatest players of all times and is also arguably one of the top 3 soccer players in England.

I'm talking about a guy who played soccer until he was 39 years old at the highest professional level, he survived the Munich airplane disaster and scored more goals for Manchester United and England's national side combined than any other player in history. This biography will take you through the life of one of football's greatest heroes.

Bobby Charlton Biography – Youth Days - England soccer player Bobby Charlton came from a family where the game was revered. His uncle played for Newcastle United and his elder brother was also a professional footballer, playing for Leeds United. While in grammar school, he was spotted by Manchester United's scout, Joe Armstrong and was taken to the Red Devils' youth squad when he was 15 years old.

Despite the fact that his mother didn't agree to the insecurities of a professional soccer player at first, in 1954 Bobby became one as he went on to play for Manchester's senior squad.

The next season found Charlton as an established first team player and as Manchester reached the European Cup semis, the competition started appealing for English clubs. In the next season, Manchester started a new campaign in the European Cup and they reached the quarters, where they went up against Red Star Belgrade. Unfortunately their trip back to England would end up tragically...

Bobby Charlton Biography – The Munich Air Disaster - Stopping by the Munich airport to refuel, Manchester's team 
were in a jubilant mood after winning against 
Red Star. The forced landing in Munich, on worsening weather did ruin this mood and the players started fearing the worse.

Charlton and his friend Dennis Viollet were sitting at the back of the plane and just prior to take off, teammates Tommy Taylor and David Pegg asked the two if they could switch places, because they felt safer at the back of the plane. 

Disaster would strike as the plane took off...in the bad weather, icy strip and low visibility, the pilot clipped a fence at the end of the runway, just as they were gaining speed. This tore the wing apart, caused the plane to spin before ripping it in half. United's goalkeeper Harry Gregg, who was miraculously left without a scratch, started a one-man rescue mission and he dragged Charlton off the plane.

Bobby Charlton Biography – Back to Manchester - Although he needed almost a year to come back to the pitch to full effect, Charlton managed to put the crash behind and rebuild his life and career. He spent his next 16 seasons with Manchester, becoming a legend with the club and also being named Sir Bobby Charlton, for his contribution to the club's success and to England's national squad success (with which he won the 1966 World Cup).

The last two seasons before retirement, Charlton went on to play for Preston North End and Waterford United, although his heart remained at Manchester.

Throughout his career he scored over 200 goals for his clubs (most of them for Manchester of course) and 49 for England's national side. Despite being a midfielder, Charlton was remembered as a player who had a great taste for goal and not only that, but he scored spectacular goals as well. His long-range shots remained memorable for English fans long after the retirement of Sir Bobby Charlton.