ributes keep pouring in George Cohen after his death at the age of 83.
Cohen was an important member and vice-captain of the England side that won their only World Cup to date on home soil in 1966 and played every minute of the tournament as Sir Alf Ramsey’s first choice at right-back.
Once described by the late great George Best as the strongest full-back he had ever played, and as England’s best full-back by Ramsey himself, Cohen earned a total of 37 senior caps between 1964 and 1967.
A one-club man with childhood idols Fulhamhe also played 459 times for his beloved whites between 1956-69 – a score bettered only by Johnny Haynes, Eddie Lowe and Les Barrett.
Cohen was forced to retire at the age of 29 due to a serious knee injury, went on to coach Fulham and the England Under-23s team before embarking on a career in property development, and later battled colon cancer and a tumor in his back, and became a tireless campaigner and patron of the Bobby Moore Fund.
He received an MBE in 2000 along with fellow ’66 winners Roger Hunt, Alan Ball, Ray Wilson and Nobby Stiles. He is honored in Fulham with a statue outside Craven Cottage.
Due to Cohen’s sad passing, there are now only two remaining members of the England base squad World Cup 1966 final in Sir Bobby Charlton and hat-trick hero Sir Jeff Hurstalong with team members George Eastham, Ian Callaghan and Terry Paine.
Hurst led the tribute to his friend and former team-mate on Friday, writing: “Very sad to hear that my friend and England team-mate George Cohen has passed away.
“Everyone, without exception, always said George was such a lovely man. He will be sadly missed, my sincere thoughts are with George’s wife Daphne and his family.”
England are planning to pay tribute to Cohen ahead of their next home game, a Euro 2024 qualifier against Ukraine at Wembley on March 26.
“We are very sad to hear the news of George Cohen’s death today,” said Debbie Hewitt, president of the Football Association (FA).
“George won 37 caps for England and was vice-captain of our World Cup winning team. We would like to extend our deepest condolences to George’s family and friends at this sad time.”
Gary Linker tweeted: “Sorry to hear that George Cohen has passed away. Another hero of the ’66 World Cup winning team leaves us. He will always have footballing immortality. RIP George.”
In a grand tribute, Fulham called Cohen “one of our greatest ever players and gentlemen” and “simply Fulham royalty”.