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Sir Alex Ferguson was among the mourners at Sir Bobby Charlton’s memorial service on Monday, alongside a raft of Manchester United players both past and present in the 1,000 invited guests.
Prince William, the current president of the Football Association, and Gareth Southgate, the manager of England’s national team, were both present in Manchester to honor one of the greatest players in English football history. Notable Manchester United players who were invited to the event were David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Roy Keane, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Bryan Robson, and Alex Stepney, who was a teammate of Sir Bobby’s.
The Glazer family, who are not well-liked owners of the club, were not present as they did not want to cause any disruptions. The manager, Erik ten Hag, was also absent due to personal obligations in his home country of the Netherlands. Several players were unable to attend as they had to travel to join their national teams for upcoming international games.
Prince Charles has arrived at Manchester Cathedral.
, has led the team to their first major tournament final since 1966.
Gareth Southgate, the manager of England, has guided the team to their initial major tournament championship game since 1966.
Alex Stepney, the former teammate of Sir Bobby and a goalkeeper.
of Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton
Paul Scholes, a former midfielder, attends the funeral of Sir Bobby Charlton, a Manchester United icon.
,
Ryan Giggs holds the record for most appearances for Manchester United.
has signed a three-year deal to become the new manager of Newcastle United.
Newcastle United has officially appointed former Manchester United captain Steve Bruce as their manager for a three-year term.
Unfortunately, Sir Bobby passed away at the age of 86 last month following a fall at his care facility.
The midfielder, born in Ashington, played for United for 17 years and made 758 appearances, scoring 249 goals. Despite surviving the Munich air disaster in 1958, he played a vital role in rebuilding United and later went on to win the European Cup in 1968. He also played a key part in England’s World Cup victory two years prior.
The funeral cortege began at Old Trafford, where Sir Bobby is celebrated alongside Denis Law and George Best in the “United Trinity” statue, and passed through streets lined with thousands of fans before reaching Manchester Cathedral.
with
Lady Norma, the widow of Sir Bobby, walks behind the pallbearers carrying the casket.
Outside Old Trafford, there are fans of Manchester United.
Floral arrangements are placed outside of Old Trafford in preparation for the memorial ceremony.
The United Trinity statue is adorned with a wreath.
The event, which was not documented or aired, featured speeches and honors from ex-club CEO David Gill, ex-Manchester United Foundation CEO John Shiels, and a special tribute from the Charlton family.
The songs performed were “Abide With Me”, typically sung before the FA Cup final, “Jerusalem”, and a rendition of “How Great Thou Art” by opera singer Russell Watson.
has been hailed as a “hero” by former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has praised Bryan Robson, a former midfielder and captain for the team, as a “hero.”
retired from football in 2003.
Peter Schmeichel, a former goalkeeper for Manchester United, ended his football career in 2003.
has completed a move to Serie A club Inter Milan.
Ashley Young, previously with Manchester United, has officially transferred to the Italian Serie A team, Inter Milan.
Former Manchester United player Andrew Cole was present at the ceremony.
to have a medical and finalize his move to Burnley
Mark Noble, the ex-captain of West Ham, has arrived in Manchester to undergo a medical examination and complete his transfer to Burnley.
The family asked for donations to be made to several charities that were dear to Sir Bobby’s heart instead of sending flowers. These charities include the Sir Bobby Charlton Foundation, the Children’s Adventure Farm Trust, and the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s UK.
The funeral was attended by current United players including Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and Jonny Evans.
Ian Callaghan, who holds the record for most appearances with Liverpool, and Mike Summerbee, a renowned player for Manchester City, were both present at the event. Ferran Soriano, a director for City, and Emilio Butragueno, a legendary player for Real Madrid, were also in attendance.
Source: independent.co.uk
