England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles has died aged 78 after a long illness.
The former Manchester United hero, who also played for Middlesbrough FC between 1971 and 1973, was part of the winning World Cup team in 1966.
A statement issued by the Stiles family read: “The Stiles family are sad to announce that Nobby Stiles passed away peacefully today (30/10/2020) surrounded by his family after a long illness.“The family kindly ask for privacy at this sad time.”
Stiles was credited with playing a key role in neutralising the threat of Portuguese star Eusebio in the World Cup semi-final. In total he won 28 caps, the lowest number of any of the World Cup-winning side.
Stiles was born in Collyhurst, Manchester, in May 1942, during an air raid and joined Manchester United as an apprentice in 1959.
He would play his part in league title successes in 1965 and 1967, before their European triumph the following year.
