The England jersey worn by Sir Bobby Charlton in the 1966 World Cup semi-final has been successfully auctioned off.
This autographed shirt was donned by the English football legend when he scored both goals in the Three Lions’ 2-1 victory over Portugal on July 26, 1966.
The iconic shirt was sold by Hansons Auctioneers, based in Derbyshire, to a private international bidder through online bidding, fetching a price of £59,040.
Sadly, Sir Bobby Charlton passed away last month at the age of 86, and his funeral was held at Manchester Cathedral on Monday.
His death triggered tributes from the global sports community, with numerous football players, managers, and pundits honouring him at the funeral.
Approximately 1,000 mourners attended the service, and crowds gathered along the streets to pay their respects as the procession arrived at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium, where rounds of applause filled the air.
Sir Bobby is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time, having won the World Cup, the European Cup (now the Champions League), the First Division, the FA Cup and the Ballon d’Or.
He made 106 appearances for the Three Lions, scoring 49 goals for his country.
The Manchester United icon, in his 17-year footballing career with the Reds, played 758 games and scored 249 goals.
He died last month after a fall at a Cheshire care home, an inquest heard.
The journey of the shirt to auction began with a West Midlands man, a winner of Littlewoods Pools in the early 1990s. Opting to invest in football memorabilia, he acquired the iconic shirt for £9,200, an amount equivalent to about £20,000 today, at a London auction in 2000.
Charles Hanson, the proprietor of Hansons Auctioneers, remarked, “This important shirt was consigned to auction a year before news of Sir Bobby’s passing in October emerged. It had long been scheduled for Hansons’ November sporting auction.
“News of his loss came as a huge shock to us all. We were deeply saddened.
He was a football legend, admired by millions.
“We’re pleased to have been able to find this important shirt a new home. We hope it enhances memories of the tremendous role he played in the 1966 World Cup as the nation celebrates his life.”