England World Cup winner Cohen dies at 83 - RTHK
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England World Cup winner Cohen dies at 83

2022-12-24 HKT 00:46
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  • George Cohen greets Britain's Queen Elizabeth at the 1966 World Cup final. The defender has died at the age of 83. File photo: AFP
    George Cohen greets Britain's Queen Elizabeth at the 1966 World Cup final. The defender has died at the age of 83. File photo: AFP
England's 1966 World Cup-winning right back George Cohen, has died aged 83, his former club Fulham announced on Friday.

Cohen made his international debut in 1964 and went on to represent his country 37 times, playing a key role in England's only World Cup triumph when they beat West Germany 4-2 after extra time at Wembley in the final.

He was one of only three surviving members of that World Cup-winning squad, along with Bobby Charlton and Geoff Hurst.

"Very sad to hear my friend and team mate George Cohen has died," Hurst said on Twitter. "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."

Cohen spent the whole of his club career with one team, Fulham, making 459 appearances for the west London side.

"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 wrote on the club's official Twitter account.

Cohen was integral to England's style of play in 1966, with the onus on full-backs to get forward in coach Alf Ramsey's system, and played every minute of that World Cup campaign.

In 2016, Fulham erected at a statue of Cohen outside their Craven Cottage stadium in celebration of the 50th anniversary of him lifting the World Cup, while he was awarded an MBE in 2000 for his services to football. (Reuters)

England World Cup winner Cohen dies at 83