George Cohen, a defender who was part of the England team that won the World Cup in 1966, has died, the English Football Association said on Friday. He was 83 years old. Cohen played every minute of England’s victorious home campaign. He appeared in 37 matches for the England team as a right-back. The cause of death was not announced. Cohen played his entire career at the Fulham club, where he made 459 appearances between 1956 and 1969. He retired at age 29 after suffering a serious knee injury. “All of us at Fulham Football Club are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of our greatest players – and gentlemen, George Cohen,” the Premier League club said in a statement. Cohen was the second captain of the England team that beat West Germany 4-2 in the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium. England striker Geoff Hurst scored a hat trick in that clash, which went into extra time.
“So saddened to hear that my friend and England teammate George Cohen has died,” Hurst wrote on Twitter. “Everyone, without exception, always said that George was a lovely man. He will be sadly missed, my condolences to George’s wife Daphne and her family.” Hurst and Bobby Charlton are the only surviving members of the English team that played in the final. The FA has announced it will plan a tribute to Cohen at Wembley Stadium in March when England play Ukraine.
“We are very saddened to hear the news of the death of George Cohen today,” said FA president Debbie Hewitt. Fulham recognized Cohen’s contribution to the club by placing a statue of him at Craven Cottage in 2016. “I find it absolutely wonderful that they even thought I was worthy of it,” Cohen said at the time, according to a tribute posted on the site on Friday. team website. “Especially because he was alongside Johnny Haynes, the greatest figure in Fulham history.” Cohen had worked in the West London club’s hospitality suites, regaling guests with stories of his incredible career.