England’s World Cup-winning right-back George Cohen has died aged 83, his former club Fulham have announced.
The footballer played every minute of England’s World Cup-winning 1966 campaign, including the final against West Germany.
He won 37 caps for England across his footballing career, the entirety of which he spent playing for Fulham.
Fulham wrote on their website: “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.”
Born in Kensington, west London, in 1939, Cohen joined his local side Fulham.
He signed a professional contract in 1956 and went on to make 459 appearances for the club before retiring through injury in 1969.
In the run-up to the 1966 World Cup, Cohen was battling with Blackpool’s Jimmy Armfield for a starting spot.
But an injury to Armfield in the lead-up to the competition allowed Cohen to cement his place in Sir Alf Ramsey’s side.
Playing in his favoured right-back role, Cohen provided key overlapping runs in an England side which played narrow through the midfield and up to the front two.
