LONG after the final whistle at Old Trafford, the players, coaching staff, directors and celebrity VIPs make their way home.
Kids clamour for the players’ autographs outside the players’ entrance.
Meanwhile, a man in his eighties would exit the directors’ door and walk along the Munich tunnel.
In his distinctive long, black coat and fedora, no other person around the famous old ground at that moment would stop fans in their stride as he did.
They looked on in awe at footballing royalty: Sir Bobby Charlton.
The word ‘legend’ was hauled into the sporting vocabulary for men like Charlton.
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Someone who almost died for his club on the freezing runway at Munich airport in 1958.
A player who would rise from that horrendous night to lift the World Cup for England in 1966 — and the European Cup for Manchester United in 1968.
There was a long-running joke in a 70s sitcom that the only English foreigners knew was ‘Bobby Charlton’.
Indeed, his fame stretched around the globe decades before satellite TV made instant heroes of ‘stars’ not worthy of lacing the great man’s boots.
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What power there was in those boots, too.
Footballs then were like medicine balls compared with the modern version — but he would launch them with a merciless power that parted the hair of goalkeepers.
The greatest goalscorer of them all, Tottenham’s Jimmy Greaves, summed it up thus: “When he hammered one into the top corner from long range, it was as if he were a man possessed, desperate to separate the leather casing from the bladder.”
Charlton played for United between 1956 and 1973, winning three titles, the FA Cup and European Cup.
Some remember the time for the emergence of George Best, but Best himself remembered it for playing alongside Charlton.
He once said: “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anybody who could beat players as easily as him, myself included.
“I often used my pace but Bobby made it look effortless. And once he got within 30 yards of goal, he was lethal with either foot.”
The word ‘loyalty’ has almost fallen out of the English football dictionary. Not at United, where Charlton put down milestones for others to aspire to.
It took until the 2008 Champions League final for Ryan Giggs to surpass his record of 758 appearances for the club.
It took until 2017 for Wayne Rooney to top his club-record goalscoring tally of 249.
Only in 2015 did Rooney surpass his England goalscoring record of 49 — and Charlton played much of his football in midfield.
A man who could play anywhere, create, score and cover the pitch with an athleticism that floored opponents.
German great Franz Beckenbauer described him as having the ‘lungs of a horse’.
The modern greats went on to hold Sir Bobby in the same thrall as those who came up against him or watched him play live.
United fans like David Beckham’s dad, Ted, who gave his son the middle name Robert after his favourite player.
While Giggs is the most decorated player in United’s history, he has always acknowledged who was the best.
Giggs said: “I think he just epitomises Manchester United.
“He was one of the best players there’s ever been and he’s someone who is humble, approachable and who oozes class.
“He’s a great person to know and he’s someone who has inspired me and helped me throughout my career.”
Charlton was a man whose legend was engrained as much in tragedy as triumph.
The 20-year-old Charlton was hauled from the wreckage of the Munich air crash by team-mate Harry Gregg.
Eight of his team-mates were among the 23 who died.
Charlton was kept in hospital for a week before he returned to his family home in Ashington to convalesce.
He got his touch back kicking the ball around with local kids near his house.
This was now a young man tasked with leading the club back.
To achieving the dream that was dashed in the snow and slush of Munich — lifting a European Cup.
There can be no more emotional win than that on May 29, 1968 at Wembley as Sir Matt Busby’s rebuilt side beat Benfica 4-1 after extra-time.
It would be 40 years later, in 2008, that Sir Alex Ferguson summoned Sir Bobby to the Carrington training ground to deliver a speech to the players of the day, stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney.
Sir Alex said to Sir Bobby: “Tell them about Munich, Bobby. Tell them about the makings of this place.
“Tell them what was passed to them so many years ago, before they were born, what they should represent every time they go out on the field. Tell them what it means to play for this club.”
A few months later they lifted the European Cup for the third time in the club’s history.
In private moments, the Munich tragedy would always weigh heavily on Charlton.
Ahead of the 60th anniversary, in 2018, he said: “Yes, it still touches me every day. Sometimes it fills me with a terrible regret and sadness — and guilt that I survived, walked away and found so much.”
The south stand at Old Trafford bears his name, the club museum and the Munich tunnel hold his memories.
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Manchester United would not be the club it is without him.
He may be gone — but his heart still beats at its very centre.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
