Football immortals: England 1966 World Cup heroes Sir Geoff Hurst and George Cohen, pictured here back in 2014
(Picture: The FA via Getty Images)Tributes continue to pour in for George Cohen following his death at the age of 83.
Cohen was a key member and vice-captain of the England side that lifted their only World Cup to date on home soil back in 1966, playing every minute of the tournament as Sir Alf Ramsey’s first-choice at right-back after an injury to Jimmy Armfield.
Once described by the late, great George Best as the toughest full-back he had ever faced, and as England’s best full-back by Ramsey himself, Cohen earned a total of 37 senior international caps between 1964-67.
A one-club man with boyhood idols Fulham, he also played 459 times for his beloved Whites between 1956-69 - a mark bettered only by Johnny Haynes, Eddie Lowe and Les Barrett.
Cohen was forced to retire aged 29 due to a serious knee injury, moving into coaching with Fulham and England’s Under-23s team before embarking on a career in property development, and later battled bowel cancer and a tumour in his back, becoming a tireless campaigner and patron of the Bobby Moore Fund.
He was awarded an MBE in 2000 alongside fellow ‘66 winners Roger Hunt, Alan Ball, Ray Wilson and Nobby Stiles. He is honoured at Fulham with a statue outside Craven Cottage.
Cohen’s sad passing means there are now only two surviving members of England’s starting side from the 1966 World Cup final in Sir Bobby Charlton and hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst, along with squad members George Eastham, Ian Callaghan and Terry Paine.
Very sad to hear my friend and @England teammate George Cohen has died. Everyone, without exception, always said that George was such a lovely man. He will be sadly missed, my heartfelt thoughts are with George’s wife Daphne and his family.
— Sir Geoff Hurst (@TheGeoffHurst) December 23, 2022
Hurst led the tributes to his friend and former team-mate on Friday, writing: “Very sad to hear my friend and England teammate George Cohen has died.
“Everyone, without exception, always said that George was such a lovely man. He will be sadly missed, my heartfelt thoughts are with George’s wife Daphne and his family.”
England plan to pay tribute to Cohen before their next home match, 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.
— The FA (@FA) December 23, 2022
"George won 37 caps for England and was vice-captain of our World Cup winning team.
"We would like to pass on our deep condolences to George’s family and friends at this sad time."
- FA Chair Debbie Hewitt
“We are very sad to hear the news of George Cohen’s death today,” said Football Association (FA) chair Debbie Hewitt.
“George won 37 caps for England and was vice-captain of our World Cup winning team. We would like to pass on our deep condolences to George’s family and friends at this sad time.”
Sorry to hear that George Cohen has died. Another of the heroes of the ‘66 World Cup winning team leaves us. He’ll always have footballing immortality. RIP George.
— Gary Lineker 💙💛 (@GaryLineker) December 23, 2022
Gary Lineker tweeted: “Sorry to hear that George Cohen has died. Another of the heroes of the ‘66 World Cup winning team leaves us. He’ll always have footballing immortality. RIP George.”
Everyone at Fulham Football Club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of our greatest ever players – and gentlemen – George Cohen MBE.
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) December 23, 2022
In a sweeping tribute, Fulham called Cohen “one of our greatest ever players and gentlemen” and “quite simply, Fulham royalty”.
