Bobby Moore

England’s captain and talisman during the 1960s, Bobby Moore was described by players such as Pele and Franz Beckenbauer as the best defender they had ever seen. But Moore was more than a player: he was a leader on the pitch and an inspiration to others. England manager Alf Ramsey made him his captain at the age of 22 and he went on to lead the team 90 times, out of a total of 108 appearances for England. Ramsey described him as “My captain, my leader, my right-hand man. He was the spirit and the heartbeat of the team. A cool, calculating footballer I could trust with my life. He was the supreme professional, the best I ever worked with. Without him England would never have won the World Cup.”

Bobby made over 500 appearances for West Ham United including victories in the FA Cup Final of 1964 and European Cup Winners Cup Final of 1965. He was voted Footballer of the Year in 1964 and BBC Sport Personality of the Year in 1966. He ended his playing career with Fulham and in North America, then tried management with Oxford City and Southend, but was never as successful off the field as on it.

“Without him, England would never have won the World Cup” Alf Ramsey

Tragically he died young, in 1993, and it is only in recent years that his contribution to English football has been truly recognised. The inscription on his statue outside the new Wembley stadium says it all…. “Immaculate footballer. Imperial defender. Immortal hero of 1966. First Englishman to raise the World Cup aloft. Favourite son of London’s East End. Finest legend of West Ham United. National Treasure. Master of Wembley. Lord of the game. Captain extraordinary. Gentleman of all time”.

Clubs: West Ham, Fulham
Caps: 108 (2 goals)
Honours: 1 World Cup, 1 FA Cup, 1 European Cup Winners’ Cup
Inducted: 2002