Football is still mourning this week the passing of Manchester United and England legend Sir Bobby Charlton.
The 86-year-old passed away on Saturday, much to the shock of the footballing world.
All over the planet, adorning tributes have been sent out to honour one of the greatest to ever play the game and an absolute gem of a human being.
Two more ex-Manchester United men, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick, spoke out on the terribly sad news.
Wayne Rooney on Sir Bobby Charlton
The newly appointed Birmingham City boss Rooney was leading his side at Middlesbrough and was asked about the passing in his post-match press conference on Saturday (21/10).
“I’m still in shock,” began Rooney, who obviously broke Sir Bobby’s goalscoring records for both United and England.
“I saw his image on the big screen at the start of the second half and didn’t know what was happening. He was a legend but more importantly a great human being.
“I have huge respect for what he went through. He experienced the Munich air disaster in 1958. Then he won the World Cup in 1966 and the European Cup in 1968.”
After paying tribute, he then went on to explain what Bobby said to him when he broke his goal-scoring record with a stunning free-kick at Stoke City.
“When I broke his United goalscoring record at Stoke in January 2017, he was there in the dressing room after the game. He congratulated me and then he said a few harsher words – but joking of course. He will be hugely missed.”
Michael Carrick on Sir Bobby Charlton
Coincidentally, Rooney’s opponent that day was former teammate Michael Carrick, who has the job at the helm of the Boro. He also gave a beautiful tribute to Bobby.
Carrick began: “The one that stands out for me was the 50th anniversary of Munich, when he came into the training ground and spoke to us about the tragedy and what it meant to him. Those are 45 minutes I will never forget.”
He then went on to explain how he heard the news break. “It’s a bitterly sad day,” said the Boro boss.
“I found out walking down the tunnel as I was leaving the changing room for the second half and I was devastated to hear the news.
“Then standing on the touchline in that atmosphere, with the applause going round and Sir Bobby’s picture on the screen, looking across and seeing Wayne next to me… the game for those few moments was irrelevant.
“My mind flicked back to the moments I had shared with Sir Bobby. He was such an iconic figure in world football, not just English football, and in the Manchester United family.
“He cared so much about the players and the club. He showed nothing but pure support for us.
“He would come in the changing rooms after every game, home and away, with his blazer and tie and proud to be part of Manchester United and pass on what it meant. I never took one of those conversations for granted.
“I have the utmost respect for what he did as a player, what he did for the club and the country, but more so as a person and for the support he used to give us. There were always words of encouragement, giving us belief.”
Bobby will be missed dearly
As mentioned by both former Reds, to which we’ll once again reiterate. Bobby will be missed so dearly.
He was part of the body and soul of this great football club and did so much not just for it – but for the game as a whole.
He epitomises Manchester United and there seriously won’t be many like him again.
The post "He said...": Rooney recalls what Sir Bobby said to him after breaking Man Utd goal record appeared first on United In Focus.
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