Bobby Moore Tribute: What the greats of world football said about the West Ham legend

Saturday, February 23, 2013
11:30 AM

England’s 1966 World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore died 20 years ago on February 24, 1993 aged just 51 following a battle against bowel cancer.

Here, we take a look at what some of the game’s leading figures said about the Bobby Moore, the player and the man.

England World Cup winning manager Sir Alf Ramsey: “My captain, my leader, my right-hand man. He was the spirit and the heartbeat of the team. A cool, calculating footballer I could trust with my life. He was the supreme professional, the best I ever worked with. Without him England would never have won the World Cup.”

Brazilian Pele, regarded as the best player of all time: “Bobby was one of the world’s finest defenders and a great gentleman. The shirt he wore against me in that 1970 World Cup match is my prize possession.”

Fellow England World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton: “Bobby Moore had class and great talent as a defender. He could sense where trouble was coming from and nullify it immediately and his distribution then was superb. His greatest asset was his influence on his team-mates and the confidence he gave them while at the same time demoralising his opponents. A real captain whose success and demeanour put him in the all-time great category and he was a pleasure to be with for so long. His statue at Wembley is a symbol of our greatest man and will be there forever.”

German legend Franz Beckenbauer, part of the 1966 team defeated at Wembley: “Bobby was my football idol. I looked up to him. I was so proud to have played against him.”

Former England and West Ham forward Sir Geoff Hirst, who scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final: “Bobby Moore was a great player, a great leader and a great friend. He was loved and respected by all who played with him and by all who watched him perform.”

Current England manager Roy Hodgson: “In recent years people have been honoured for winning the World Cup, and it is unfortunate Bobby died so young and was not knighted for it.”

Former England captain David Beckham said: “Bobby Moore is a legend. He is real hero of mine and a great example to every professional footballer.”

Football Association director of football development Sir Trevor Brooking, and former team-mate at West Ham: “Bobby’s contribution to football and history has sadly only been recognised after his premature death. He was an astonishing footballer, but also a great man and an important footballing friend to me in my early days.”

QPR manager and friend Harry Redknapp: “Can you tell me why he hasn’t got a knighthood? Why wasn’t Bobby Moore Sir Bobby Moore? No disrespect, but there are a lot of footballers who couldn’t lace his boots, or done as much in the game as he had, who get all kinds of accolades bestowed on them. There’s never been a nicer man or classier man on and off the field to ever grace the game.”

Jeff Powell, award winning sports reporter and one of Moore’s closest friends, wrote the inscription on the Wembley statue: “Immaculate footballer. Imperial defender. Immortal hero of 1966. First Englishman to raise the World Cup aloft. Favourite son of London’s East End. Finest legend of West Ham United. National Treasure. Master of Wembley. Lord of the game. Captain extraordinary. Gentleman of all time.”