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RIP Jack Charlton. Leeds United’s record appearance maker has passed away at the age of 85.

Jack Charlton was one of the all-time greats of English football. He will be missed.

Jackie Charlton Lifts the F.A. Cup Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Leeds United have lost an all time great following the passing of record appearance maker Jack Charlton at the age of 85 following a long-term battle with Lymphoma and Dementia. All of us at Through It All Together offer our sympathies to his friends and family.

Jack Charlton spent 23 years at Leeds United, beginning in 1950 as part of the ground staff, and amassed an incredible club record of 773 appearances, starting with a debut against Doncaster Rovers in 1953. Across his career he scored 96 goals for Leeds, putting him ninth in the all-time list of Leeds United scorers despite being a centre-back.

Charlton was one of the biggest parts of Leeds United’s most successful period in their history. He won the League Cup in 1968, the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1968 and 1971, the Charity Shield in 1969, the FA Cup in 1972, and the First Division in 1968/69. he also won the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year in 1967.

This is not only a loss to the people who knew him, and to Leeds United, but it is a huge loss to England. Jack Charlton played in every match of England’s triumph at the 1966 World Cup on home soil, culminating with a 4-2 victory over West Germany in the final at Wembley. He won 35 caps for the Three Lions, scoring six goals - which is a very impressive goalscoring rate once again.

Charlton retired as a player at the close of the 1972/73 season, ending his fantastic playing career against Southampton in April 1973.

‘Big Jack’ then went on to management. He managed Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle United at club level, before taking his best known non-playing role as manager of the Republic of Ireland national team.

Charlton spent 10 years in charge of the Republic of Ireland side and lead them to previously unseen success, reaching their first major finals at Euro 88 and the World Cup quarter-finals at Italia 90.

Jack Charlton is the third Leeds United legend to pass away recently - following the deaths of Norman Hunter and Trevor Cherry earlier this year.

He is survived by wife Pat, whom he married in 1958, and their three children, John, Deborah and Peter.

There will be obituaries written by people better placed to comment than myself, who were around to see Big Jack at his best - and I urge you to seek them out.

Rest In Peace Jack Charlton, 8th May 1935 - 10th July 2020.