Sir Bobby Charlton: Sammy McIlroy pays tribute to former Man Utd team-mate
- Published
Charlton won won 106 caps for England and scored 49 international goals
Sammy McIlroy has described his former Manchester United team-mate Sir Bobby Charlton as "one of the greatest of all time".
United legend Charlton, who was a key figure in England's 1966 World Cup victory, has died at the age of 86.
McIlroy, 69, paid a warm tribute to Charlton, who was in the United team when he made his debut for the Old Trafford club in 1971.
"He was an absolutely fantastic footballer," McIlroy told Radio Ulster.
"I made my debut alongside him and was very proud and privileged to do so. He was what Manchester United were all about, a fantastic ambassador for the club."
He added: "He had everything. Both feet - left foot, right foot. He could hit it from 20 yards into the top corner, and he did that many times for England and Man United.
"If any kids haven't seen Bobby Charlton play then go and have a look at him in his pomp. What a player and what a man.
"He will never be forgotten by supporters of England and Manchester United. [He was] one of the greatest of all time, no doubt about that."
Charlton's family said he "passed peacefully in the early hours of Saturday morning".
It was announced in November 2020 that he had been diagnosed with dementia.
Charlton won 106 caps for England and scored 49 international goals - records for his country at the time - and won three league titles, a European Cup and an FA Cup during a 17-year first-team career with United.
McIlroy played for Manchester United for 11 years
Former Northern Ireland manager and player McIlroy, who enjoyed an 11-year spell at Old Trafford, also paid tribute to Charlton's personality as he recalled the first time he met him.
"When I first went to United as a 15-year-old in 1969, Bobby was one of the first players - along with Sir Matt Busby - to come and say hello to me, which for me was absolutely unbelievable," explained McIlroy, who played at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.
"A player like Bobby Charlton who had achieved so much in the game by that time, it was a just a privilege for me to meet him and then play alongside him."
He added: "He didn't like to be in the limelight but his football put him in the limelight.
"Bobby in training and Bobby in games wanted everyone to give 100%. He wanted everything as near to perfect as it could be. That's the type of man he was. Bobby was very reserved and well-like by all of his team-mates and supporters. Everyone, in fact, all over the world."
McIlroy explained how he enjoyed seeing Charlton regularly at United matches until a year ago, and repeated his great sadness at his former team-mate's passing.
"I worked at United on matchdays and Bobby was always at the games. Over the last year or so, he hasn't been seen because of [his] health.
"He was sadly missed even then because when I would see him at games he would say hello and we would have a brief chat, but over the last year or so it didn't happen.
"It [Charlton's passing] is still sinking in for me. Bobby was a fantastic footballer and a lovely, lovely man."