CHARLTON, BOBBY

born Oct. 11, 1937, Ashington, Northumberland, Eng. byname of Robert Charlton association football (soccer) player and manager who is sometimes regarded as one of the greatest English footballers. On April 21, 1970, he became one of the very few players to have appeared in 100 full international matches, and from 1957 to 1973 he made a total of 106 appearances for England. A forward on the Manchester United team in the Football Association from 1954 until he retired in 1973, Charlton survived an airplane crash (in Munich, Feb. 6, 1958) in which eight Manchester United regulars were killed. His inspired play then led his team, composed chiefly of reserves, to the Football Association Cup final match that year. He played on the English national teams that won the World Cup (Jules Rimet Trophy) in 1966 and the European Cup for 196768. He managed the Preston North End team (197375) and was later director of the Wigan Athletic Football Club. In 1984 Charlton became director of the Manchester United football club. Charlton was the author of My Soccer Life (1965), Forward for England (1967), and other books.