England 1966 World Cup winner and Manchester United legend dies

England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles has died on the age of 78.

The legendary former Manchester United midfielder was a significant a part of the Three Lions squad that received the nation’s first and to date solely World Cup in 1966.

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An announcement issued by the Stiles household on Friday learn: “The Stiles household are unhappy to announce that Nobby Stiles handed away peacefully as we speak surrounded by his household after a protracted sickness. The household kindly ask for privateness at this unhappy time.”

Stiles, who performed each minute of England’s World Cup triumph, is understood for neutralising the specter of Portuguese star Eusebio within the event’s semi-final.

In complete he received 28 caps, scoring one objective.

Stiles was born in Collyhurst, Manchester, in Could 1942, throughout an air raid. He agreed apprentice phrases with United in 1959, at a time when the membership was nonetheless recovering from the Munich air catastrophe a yr earlier wherein eight gamers have been killed.

He received league titles with the Purple Devils in 1965 and 1967, earlier than the continental success the next yr.

Stiles left United in 1971, happening to play for Middlesbrough and Preston. He later managed the Lilywhites between 1977 and 1981, earlier than teaching Canadian aspect Vancouver Whitecaps after which West Brom between 1985 and 1986.

He returned to United as a youth group coach underneath Sir Alex Ferguson in 1989 for a four-year stint.

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Stiles suffered a collection of well being points in later life, together with a dementia analysis.

In 2010, after a mini-stroke, he determined to promote his medals as a way to go away one thing to his household.

United purchased them for £200,000 and the medals at the moment are housed within the membership’s museum.

Former England midfielder Peter Reid was one of many first to pay tribute to Stiles on social media. “Nobby Stiles RIP,” he tweeted, alongside a coronary heart emoji.

Former England striker Gary Lineker paid tribute to Stiles, singling out the previous Manchester United participant’s coronary heart.

“Saddened to listen to that Nobby Stiles has handed away,” Lineker tweeted.

“One other of our 1966 World Cup successful heroes leaves us. He had a coronary heart that was even greater than the hole in his tooth. RIP Nobby.”

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In the meantime, England’s official Twitter account wrote: “We’re extremely saddened to study of the passing of Nobby Stiles, a key member of our @FIFAWorldCup-winning squad, on the age of 78.

“All of our ideas are with Nobby’s family members.”

Manchester United tweeted: “We’re extraordinarily saddened to study of the passing of Nobby Stiles MBE.

“An integral a part of our first-ever European Cup-winning aspect, Nobby was a titan of the membership’s historical past, cherished for his coronary heart and persona on and off the pitch. He can be sorely missed by us all.”