Sir Bobby Charlton’s last surviving brother, Tommy, 77, makes heartfelt tribute to Man United legend following his death, saying: ‘If ever there was a place reserved in heaven, it is for Bob’

• Tommy Charlton, 77, makes heartfelt tribute to his brother Sir Bobby Charlton
• The Man United and England legend passed away at the age of 86 on Saturday

Sir Bobby Charlton’s last surviving brother, Tommy, has made a heartfelt tribute to his older sibling following the Manchester United legend’s death on Saturday.

England legend Charlton passed away at the age of 86 at the weekend after a battle with dementia, leaving the world of football to mourn his death.

His legendary status in English football resulted in tributes flooding in over the weekend with Sir Geoff Hurst, David Beckham and Gary Neville all paying homage to the 1966 World Cup winner.

And now Tommy, 77, said the iconic midfielder has been reunited with their old sibling Jack Charlton in heaven.

An emotional Tommy told the Mirror: ‘If ever there was a place reserved in heaven, it is for Bob. He and Jack were everybody’s heroes. Throughout my life, from being a little boy, I have never felt anything other than pride in both of Jack and Bob.  

Tommy Charlton (pictured right with wife Carol) has made a heartfelt tribute to his brother Sir Bobby Charlton (left) following his death over the weekend

Tommy, 77, says Sir Bobby has been reunited with their old sibling Jack Charlton in heaven

‘Being the youngest, Jack was a big, towering guy, my big brother, I looked up to him growing up. And I respected Bob’s integrity and intelligence. You could talk to him about any subject. 

‘I am a little bit annoyed that football took them away from me when we were young. From the age of 10, I would see them when they came home from their clubs, or we went to visit. Other families were growing up together.’

Tommy added: ‘They were idols to other people. But to me, they were my brothers. That is where my heart is, with my brothers.’

Charlton’s family released a statement announcing the death of arguably this country’s greatest ever player, three years after confirming that he had been diagnosed with dementia.

It read: ‘It is with great sadness that we share the news that Sir Bobby passed peacefully in the early hours of Saturday morning. He was surrounded by his family.

‘His family would like to pass on their thanks to everyone who has contributed to his care and for the many people who have loved and supported him.’

United also paid tribute to Charlton describing him as ‘one of the greatest and most beloved players in the history of our club’, a ‘hero to millions’ and a ‘giant of the game’.

Charlton won the World Cup with the Three Lions in 1966 (pictured: Charlton with the trophy)

Charlton played 758 games and scored 249 goals for United over a 17-year period at the club  

Ashington-born Charlton lifted the World Cup with England alongside his brother Jack in 1966 and won 106 caps for his country, scoring 49 goals. He was voted European Footballer of the Year in the same year.

He came through United’s academy and went on to play 758 games for the club, scoring 249 goals in a 17-year career after he survived the Munich Air Disaster.

Charlton won the European Cup a decade later in 1968 – scoring twice in the final against Benfica – as well as three league titles and the FA Cup at Old Trafford, where he also served as a director for 39 years.

The South Stand was renamed in his honour in 2016 and he is immortalised in the Trinity statue outside Old Trafford alongside George Best and Denis Law.

Tributes poured in for the man Sir Alex Ferguson has described as ‘unquestionably the best player of all time’. 

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: ‘He has a place in history as one of the game’s greatest players and was hugely loved.’

The FA announced that it will honour Charlton before next month’s game against Malta at Wembley, the scene of his two greatest triumphs lifting the World Cup and European Cup.

A statement read: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we have learned of the passing of Sir Bobby Charlton. A true legend of our game. We will never forget you, Sir Bobby.’

Sir Hurst, 81, wrote on social media: ‘We will never forget him & nor will all of football’

Manchester United also posted a tribute on social media to the late Bobby Charlton

David Beckham paid a personal tribute, saying: ‘It all began with Sir Bobby. He was the reason I had the opportunity to play for Manchester United. I will be forever grateful to a man I was named after, someone I looked up to. A true gentleman, family man and truly a national hero.’

Charlton’s passing leaves Sir Geoff Hurst as the last remaining survivor of the Boys of ’66. Hurst posted a message saying: ‘We will never forget him and nor will all of football. A great colleague and friend, he will be sorely missed by all of the country beyond sport alone.’

Gary Lineker added: ‘For me, England’s greatest ever player. He may no longer be with us but he’ll have footballing immortality. A truly wonderful footballer and genuinely lovely man.’

Wayne Rooney, who broke Charlton’s goal scoring record for United and England, spoke after his first game in charge of Birmingham City and said: ‘I’m still in shock. 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.’

Gary Neville described Charlton as ‘Manchester United’s greatest ever representative around the world, and has been for 50-60 years’.

On Monday, Erik ten Hag was joined by members of Manchester United’s first-team as they signed personal messages of condolence in a remembrance book set-up in memory of Sir Bobby.

United opened their book of condolence to the public on Sunday following their Premier League win over Sheffield United the previous evening and thousands of supporters flocked to the club’s stadium to pay their respects.

Man United manager Erik ten Hag signed a personal message in memory of Sir Bobby Charlton

United have opened a book of condolence that is open for members of the public to sign

Ten Hag and his players have now signed messages of respect for club icon at their Carrington training complex that will be added to the book of condolence later in the week.

While the world of football mourned his death, a small group of Man City fans made sick chants of his death, leading the Premier League champions to apologise to Charlton’s family on Monday. 

A video circulating on social media shows a group of supporters dressed in Manchester City-branded clothing chanting ‘Bobby’s in a box’ on one of the concourses at the Etihad Stadium. 

Man City have apologised to Charlton’s family and have appealed for information about the chants, and vowing to issue banning orders to any offenders.

The statement read: ‘Manchester City FC are extremely disappointed to have learned of reports of offensive chanting from a small number of individuals about Sir Bobby Charlton in some of the concourses of the Etihad Stadium during half time of yesterday’s Premier League fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion.

‘The club condemns these chants in the strongest terms, and apologises unreservedly to the family and friends of Sir Bobby, and to all those at Manchester United. 

Manchester City fans have apologised to the family of Sir Bobby Charlton after a video emerged of supporters chanting about the late United legend

Manchester City have appealed for information about the chants and have vowed to issue banning orders to any offenders

‘On this day of all days, when the stadium stood to pay tribute to our own legend in Francis Lee, Manchester City supporters should understand and appreciate as keenly as anyone the need for respect in our game.

‘Our security team are studying CCTV footage of the concourse areas. We are thankful to those who have already come forward to report this matter, and we continue to appeal for any information that can help us identify the individuals involved, so that we can take the appropriate action to issue banning orders.

‘Fans who see or hear abusive behaviour are encouraged to text 0770 0151 894 to make our dedicated security team aware of what they have witnessed.’

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