England have announced the death of their 1966 World Cup legend George Cohen, who dies at the age of 83.
George Cohen is known throughout England as a famous member of the triumphant England 1966 World Cup squad.
He was also a Fulham legend, who played for the club throughout his career. During his playing days, Cohen was a defender. He played full-back position for club and country.
He made his debut for the Three Lions in a 2-1 win over Uruguay in 1962.
George Cohen’s strength and versatility as a full-back in the England squad made him a priority defender for former manager of the England national team – Sir Alf Ramsey.
Cohen served as vice-captain in England’s historic World Cup final win over West Germany in Wembley.
He retired from England national team in 1967, a year after helping the England national team conquer the world.
He was one of the top players of the Three Lions and had reportedly made 37 appearances before retiring from the team.
According to reports, George Cohen became the first England player that stopped playing for the national team after the 1966 World Cup.
At Fulham, he made 459 appearances and was a top defender for the club, where he started and ended his career.
Cohen died at the age of 83 and is said to be among the six surviving members of England 1966 World Cup squad.
The five other remaining stars who made the triumphant England World Cup squad are Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir George Hurst, George Eastham, Terry Paine, and Ian Callaghan.
George Hurst became the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final. It has taken 56 years for the feat to be replicated, with Mbappe the second player to have it done.
As of the time of filing this report, the exact cause of Cohen’s death is not known.
George Cohen
George Cohen was born and raised in Cassidy Road, Fulham, just after the outbreak of the Second World War. His family were passionate England football fans but were divided by two clubs –Fulham and Chelsea.
George Cohen was a fan of the former, while the rest of his family supported two-time Champions League winners Chelsea.
He pushed his football passion from an ordinary fan to a legendary player, thanks to Fulham Central Secondary School, where he sharpened his football skills and established himself both as a promising star and as a leader.
He was made head boy in the school because of his exceptional leadership skills.
Among his peers, Cohen is said to have possessed two football skills that separated him from others – strength and speed.
At the age of 17, George Cohen graduated to Fulham’s first team and immediately made his senior debut in a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in March 1957,
He made 459 appearances and scored six goals as a defender after 13 years spell with the cottagers from 1956 to 1969.
He retired at the age of 29 after suffering severe knee injury that ruled him out of action.
In 1966, George Cohen wrote his name in the history of England football after he helped England demolish West Germany 4-2 at Wembley in the World Cup final.
