{"id":297162,"date":"2023-11-13T18:39:04","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T18:39:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/?p=297162"},"modified":"2023-11-13T18:39:04","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T18:39:04","slug":"man-utd-icon-sir-alex-ferguson-leads-fitting-tributes-to-sir-bobby-charlton","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports-life-news.com\/soccer\/man-utd-icon-sir-alex-ferguson-leads-fitting-tributes-to-sir-bobby-charlton\/","title":{"rendered":"Man Utd icon Sir Alex Ferguson leads fitting tributes to Sir Bobby Charlton"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Sir Alex Ferguson led the tributes as the football world gathered to say goodbye to Sir Bobby Charlton. Mourners packed into Manchester Cathedral for the funeral of of the World Cup winner and Manchester United legend.<\/p>\n

After the service, Ferguson credited Charlton with providing the support to him when times were tough which laid the foundations of the club\u2019s huge success. \u201cHe was a fantastic man. I was at United because of Bobby Charlton, no question about that,\u201d said Ferguson.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the day I came, he supported me 100 per cent, all the way. He was totally behind me in everything we tried to do in terms of youth and, as I said, I was there because of Bobby.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thousands of fans gathered at Old Trafford to say goodbye to Charlton as the funeral cortege was on its way to the cathedral. At the funeral ceremony former United chief executive David Gill spoke along with John Shiels from the Manchester United Foundation as well as Charlton\u2019s grandson William Balderston.<\/p>\n

JUST IN: <\/strong> Man Utd’s Sir Bobby Charlton send-off was as dignified as the icon himself<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Current manager Erik ten Hag was not present given a clash with an ‘unbreakable and long-standing commitment in the Netherlands’, according to United. But former United players, representatives from other clubs and dignitaries including Prince William and UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin packed out the cathedral.<\/p>\n

Bryan Robson called Charlton a \u201cgreat player and a great person\u201d and added: \u201cIt’s a sad day for the family, for Manchester United but also for football because he was a fantastic player. But he wasn’t just a great player, he was a great person, he had time for everyone and wanted to help everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n