Sir Bobby Charlton diagnosed with dementia, wife Lady Norma confirms
Sir Bobby #SirBobby
Sir Bobby Charlton, widely considered to be England’s greatest ever footballer, has been diagnosed with dementia.
The 83-year-old, who was England and Manchester United’s record goalscorer until recently, has the disease, the Telegraph said, with his wife, Lady Norma, content for his condition to be made public in order to help others with dementia.
Related: Mick McCarthy on Jack Charlton: ‘He illuminated Ireland and changed lives’
Charlton won 106 England caps and was a key member of the 1966 World Cup triumph, while in his club career won three league titles, a European Cup and an FA Cup with United during 17 years at Old Trafford, where he remains on the board of directors.
Charlton’s elder brother, Jack, died aged 85 in July following a battle with dementia and lymphoma, with three other members of England’s triumphant 1966 World Cup team also having being diagnosed with dementia or memory loss.
On Friday Charlton’s United teammate, Nobby Stiles, died after a prolonged period with dementia and prostate cancer with Martin Peters and Ray Wilson previously passing away in 2019 and 2018 respectively after having Alzheimer’s disease. A study last year found former footballers 3.5 times more likely to develop dementia.
Gary Lineker, whose 48 England goals places him one behind Sir Bobby’s 49 as the second highest ever scorer, wrote on Twitter: “Yet another hero of our 1966 World Cup winning team has been diagnosed with dementia. Perhaps the greatest of them all, Sir Bobby. This is both very sad and deeply concerning.”