George Cohen, the right back in England’s World Cup winning team of 1966, has died aged 83. His former club Fulham announced.
Cohen played every minute of the victorious campaign on home soil and in total won 37 caps for his country.
Fulham wrote on the club’s official Twitter account: “Everyone at Fulham Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of our greatest ever players – and gentleman – George Cohen MBE.”
Cohen spent his entire club career with Fulham, making 459 appearances for his hometown side.
He began his time at Craven Cottage as a member of the grounds staff but quickly made his mark in the first team, with a debut against Liverpool in March 1957, coming at the age of 17.
Fulham described Cohen as being “blessed with terrific pace” adding: “He became one of the game’s first attacking full-backs, setting the tone for how football is so often played today.”
His impressive performances earned him an England debut in May 1964 during a 2-1 win over Uruguay at Wembley.
Cohen established himself as his country’s first choice right-back and played every minute of England’s victorious 1966 World Cup campaign, including all 120 minutes of the 4-2 win over Germany in the final.
Cohen was forced to retire at the age of 29 due to a knee injury and after working as a coach with Fulham’s youth side and the England U23s, went on to work in the property and building sectors.
But it is for his work on the football field that Cohen is best remembered, with legendary Manchester United and Northern Ireland winger George Best calling him: “The best full-back I ever played against.”
In 2000, Cohen was awarded an MBE for services to football alongside four of his teammates from the 1966 side: roger Hunt, Allan Ball, Ray Wilson and Hobby Stiles.
Fulham said, “Only Johnny Haynes, Eddie Lowe and Les Barrett played more games for us than George. He is quite simply Fulham royalty.”
“All of our thoughts are with Daphne, his beloved wife of more than 60 years, sons Anthony and Andrew, his grandchildren and extended family, as well as George’s many, many friends.”
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