Tributes have been paid after 1966 England World Cup winner George Cohen dies age 83, sadly confirmed by Fulham on Friday morning.
Cohen was a legend at Craven Cottage, making and made his Three Lions debut against Uruguay in 1962.
He established himself as Sir Alf Ramsey’s first choice full-back for the tournament four year later, calling Cohen the country’s “greatest right-back”, while winger George Best described him as “the best full back I ever played against”.
Cohen was also vice-captain in England’s triumph over West Germany at Wembley and played his final international match just one year later.
He became the first member of England’s 1966 International XI to quit playing for his country, going on to be known as one of the few “greatest one-trophy wonders”, winning solely a Fifa World Cup Winner’s Medal throughout his 13-year career which started in 1956 and ended in 1969.
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.
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) December 23, 2022
FULHAM STATEMENT:
Everyone associated with Fulham Football Club is desperately saddened to learn of the passing of one of our greatest ever players – and gentlemen – George Cohen MBE.
A one club man, George made 459 appearances for his beloved Whites, in addition to earning 37 England caps, with whom he famously won the World Cup in 1966.
Born in Fulham, soon after the outbreak of World War II, just over a mile from Craven Cottage on Cassidy Road, George actually lived closer to Stamford Bridge, but it was the black and white half of the borough he opted for.
“It was easier to bunk into Fulham than it was to get into Chelsea,” he joked in a 2016 interview. “There was this big tree at Craven Cottage, and my friends and I used to climb up it and drop over the wall into the ground.
“The Club knew we used to sneak in that way, but it didn’t mind; I suppose it was a way of recruiting young supporters!”
As a child, George went to St John’s primary school, before moving onto Fulham Central secondary, which is now called Fulham College and is used by the Club on matchdays.
George stayed there until he joined up with Fulham FC in 1956. At first he worked as a member of the grounds staff, he then swapped to cleaning boots for the big stage, making his debut against Liverpool as a 17-year-old in March 1957.
The following season, George became the Club’s first choice right-back, revolutionising the role. Blessed with terrific pace, he became one of the game’s first attacking full-backs, setting the tone for how football is so often played today.
It was a superb campaign for the Whites, finishing fifth place, which was complemented by a fine FA Cup run which was ended at the Semi-Final stage by Manchester United.
A year after, George started all but one of our 42 matches as Fulham won promotion to the top-flight, where he helped us stay for nine consecutive seasons, as well as getting another FA Cup Semi-Final under his belt in 1962.
He was consistent in his performances, and in May 1964, Alf Ramsey gave him an England debut in a 2-1 win over Uruguay at Wembley. It was a shirt he refused to relinquish, taking the spot of national team captain Jimmy Armfield.
Of the following 27 matches England played before the World Cup, George started 23 of them and was Ramsey’s undisputed first choice going into the tournament.
As Ramsey didn’t play with conventional wingers, a lot of responsibility fell on the shoulders of the full-backs, an obligation that George relished.
England kept clean sheets in their first four matches of the World Cup, culminating in a 1-0 Quarter-Final win over Argentina which led to a famous photo of Ramsey stopping George from swapping shirts at full-time, with the England manager angry at what he deemed to be dirty tactics from the opposition.
George started the move that led to the goal which proved the winner in the 2-1 Semi-Final victory over Portugal, before playing all 120 minutes of England’s greatest game, as they saw off the challenge of West Germany to triumph 4-2 after extra-time in the World Cup Final.
He featured seven more times for his country after that tournament, and was duly awarded an MBE in 2000 for his services to football, alongside four of his teammates from ’66; Roger Hunt, Alan Ball, Ray Wilson and Nobby Stiles.
George’s playing days were cut tragically short at the age of just 29, after suffering a nasty knee injury. Cruelly coming at a time when he was playing what he considered to be the best football of his life, he never fully recovered and was forced to call time on his career.
One of the biggest endorsements of his talent came when the legendary winger George Best described him as “the best full-back I ever played against.”
After spending some time coaching the Fulham youth team, as well as England’s Under-23 side, George opted for a career change, becoming a success in the property and building markets.
It wasn’t long before he was honoured with his own suite, and any fans who were lucky enough to enjoy hospitality in the George Cohen Lounge will no doubt have wonderful memories of the occasion.
In 2016, the Club announced that a statue of George had been commissioned, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of one of our favourite sons lifting the Jules Rimet trophy.
There launched #Cohen66, a fundraising campaign that looked to raise money for two causes close to George’s heart – dementia and men’s health, two issues on which he worked closely with the Fulham FC Foundation. The excellent Fulham Memories initiative was born from the former.
The statue was unveiled in October of that year, with George typically humble about the whole thing.
“I mean, to think that they had made a statue; I find it absolutely wonderful that they even thought I was worthy of it,” he said. “Especially as it was alongside Johnny Haynes, the greatest name in Fulham’s history.
“To be alongside him, it was rather unbelievable. It was great to think that not only the Club, but the supporters had wanted to put a statue of me there.”
That was not the only honour bestowed upon George in 2016, as he was also granted the freedom of Hammersmith & Fulham, the highest civic distinction that a borough can give.
This was not just a recognition of his footballing achievements, but also of his tireless campaigning for research into cancer and dementia.
He was introduced the Forever Fulham award – presented to players who have truly imprinted themselves upon the fabric of our Club – George was naturally one of the first recipients.
Only Johnny Haynes, Eddie Lowe and Les Barrett played more games for us than George. He is, quite simply, Fulham royalty.
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.
Very sad to hear my friend and @England teammate George Cohen has died. Everyone, without exception, always said that George was such a lovely man. He will be sadly missed, my heartfelt thoughts are with George’s wife Daphne and his family.
— Sir Geoff Hurst (@TheGeoffHurst) December 23, 2022
More and more tributes were paid after the 1966 England World Cup winner dies age 83…
@Jennings55Jr: That’s so sad another one of our golden boys x RIP
@TimmyNguyen96: I hope Fulham does a moment of silence for him ahead of the match against Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.
@_mike_pete: Very sad. Just Sir Bobby and Sir Geoff left from the Boys of 66.
@AmbroseBarnaby: RIP George, a forever Fulham & England legend ❤️
@Denver1879: RIP George 💔
@Chris_TheDriver: How desperately sad. RIP George and thank you for everything you did for both my club and my country. You’ll walk into Heaven’s first XI.
@cheeseFFC: Rest in peace
@FulhamRod: RIP Legend. We will never forget you
@camstutely: True legend World Cup winner, may he rest peacefully 🫶❤️
@Chris4FFC: 1966 – My First Fulham Hero 😢 A true gentleman when we met 👏🏻
@JackSmi44847892: Rename the Riverside in honour of him
@Dave79happydays: A proper Fulham legend. RIP Mr Cohen and thank you for everything you gave to the club
@RobRiley247: So sad to hear this news. I was privileged to once sit next to George in his lounge at the Cottage and listen to all his tales of Fulham & England. A great man & a true Fulham legend #ffc #WorldCup1966 #ENGLAND #GeorgeCohen
@ffc_dad: One of the best on and off the pitch
@Smudgeboy99: RIP Gentleman George, classy player, classy man. And then there were five. ☹️
@AlanBra86520411: RIP George Cohen 🖤🤍 Condolences to family and friends.
@PhilipShortland: Commiserations to everyone at Fulham in particular but George will be missed by all the football family. RIP
@cwoolman: An absolute legend and amazing man. RIP George xx 💔
@On2Chris: I had the pleasure to talk with him, work with him and share fabulous football stories, he was a true gentleman and remains for me one of 11 players that you can rightfully call Legend! A World Cup winner ⚽️ x
@Keith28761064: I feel a deep and visceral sadness about this. A connection to my mum maybe. RIP George. A legend of the game.
@Chops_Top_Fives: Heartbreaking news. Club legend & a genuinely lovely man. Condolences to his family 🖤
@brian_tea: RIP George Cohen. Had the pleasure of talking to him a few times and when my daughter was doing a project at Junior school about football in the past, she wrote to him via the club and he sent back a hand written reply. A great player and a gentleman.
@ColinIve: Such sad news. Lived in same road as George when he was a World Cup winner and all the lads in the street were in awe of him. A really nice guy happy to show the local erks his medal and chat. Met him a few times in later life and he always had time to talk RIP top man.
Another 1966 icon gone. RIP George Cohen. pic.twitter.com/RLQhUz0uFm
— ®️I©️🇰y ☮︎ (@VividRicky) December 23, 2022
RIP George Cohen, the former Fulham and #England right back was a member of the 1966 World Cup team. pic.twitter.com/2AzUoovQWd
— 3Retro Football (@3retro_) December 23, 2022
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