‘English football’s greatest-ever player’ - Gary Neville pays tribute to Sir Bobby Charlton following passing

Gary Neville has labelled Sir Bobby Charlton as ‘English football’s greatest-ever player’, following the sad news he passed away on Saturday.

The ex-Manchester United star is intrinsically tied to the Red Devils, playing in the famous 1968 European Cup-winning team, while also England’s 1966 World Cup side. In a statement released on Saturday, Charlton’s family said: “It is with great sadness that we share the news that Sir Bobby passed peacefully in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

“He was surrounded by his family. His family would like to pass on their thanks to everyone who has contributed to his care and for the many people who have loved and supported him. We would request that the family’s privacy be respected at this time.”

Speaking just a few hours after his passing, Neville hailed Charlton’s character both on and off the pitch.

“I think he’s been Manchester United’s greatest representative around the world and has been for 50/60 years,” he said on Sky Sports. “When you think he was one of the original Busby Babes, was part of that tragic Munich Air Crash, survived it but lost a lot of his team-mates and colleagues and came through.

“He won youth cups at United in the early days under Sir Matt Busby and went on to win the European Cup and World Cup and, in the modern era as director, he used to come into the dressing room after every single match, win, lose or draw. It was something I would maybe take for granted at the club when I was there.

“It’s a great loss today but he is English football’s greatest-ever player and greatest ambassador. He was a champion on the pitch and off the pitch.

"I think what Sir Bobby Charlton is, is an example of how you can have a great ambassador, someone who is a legend at the club, someone who does it very well in the boardroom. He always represented Manchester United in the right way.

"He was the greatest ambassador and the way he spoke about the club was incredible. He was the golden thread through from Sir Matt Busby to Sir Alex Ferguson. Two golden eras of Manchester United's history and he was a constant through both of them."

Meanwhile, Neville’s former team-mate David Beckham posted a touching tribute to Charlton on Saturday night. “It all started with Sir Bobby. Sir Bobby was the reason I had the opportunity to play for Manchester United,” he wrote on social media.

“I will forever be grateful to him, he was someone who I admired and who was a hero to many around the world, not just in Manchester and in our country where he won the World Cup in 1966...

“A true gentleman, a family man and a national hero... Today is not just a sad day for Manchester United and England, it is a sad day for football and everything that Sir Bobby stood for.

“Our thoughts are with Lady Norma, her daughters and his grandchildren. Rest in peace Sir Bobby.”

United have opened a book of condolence at Old Trafford and laid a wreath at the Hold Trinity to honour Charlton's life.