ENGLAND 1966 World Cup hero George Cohen has passed away.
Cohen was one of England’s heroes of 1966 who played in the final against West Germany at Wembley.
Hulton Archive – GettyGeorge Cohen, left, celebrates winning the World Cup[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationCohen, back left, celebrates alongside team-mates[/caption]
PA:Press AssociationCohen was awarded an MBE in 2000[/caption]
GettyCohen made 459 appearances for Fulham[/caption]
Getty Images – GettyCohen is the uncle of rugby World Cup winner Ben Cohen[/caption]
AFPCohen pictured bowing to the Queen at the 1966 finals[/caption]
He won 37 England caps as an attacking right-back.
Cohen also made 459 appearances for Fulham, and was born just over a mile away from Craven Cottage.
Fulham confirmed the sad news on Twitter.
It read: “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.”
Cohen was awarded his MBE in 2000.
His tragic passing means that only Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst are still alive from the team which claimed the historic victory.
The club added: “All of our thoughts are with Daphne, his beloved wife of more than 60 years, sons Anthony and Andrew, his grandchildren and extended family, as well as George’s many, many friends.”
Cohen, who is the uncle of England rugby World Cup winner Ben Cohen, made his debut in 1956 and retired 13 years later at the age of 29.
He made his debut for Fulham in 1956 and played there for 13 seasons.
Cohen won his first England cap when he was picked by Sir Alf Ramsey in 1964 in a 2-1 victory over Uruguay.
Manchester United legend George Best described him as “the best full-back I ever played against.”
Cohen played an integral part of Ramsey’s 66 winning team, helping the Three Lions to keep clean sheets in each of their first four matches.
He then started the move which led to England’s winner in the semi-final against Portugal before playing all 120 minutes in the final.
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