Roger Hunt: Liverpool great and England World Cup winner dies aged 83 | Football News
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Roger Hunt, an England World Cup winner and Liverpool’s second-highest goalscorer of all time, has died aged 83.
Hunt was part of England’s World Cup-winning line-up in 1966 and scored an unrivalled 244 league goals for Liverpool during his career.
The club said in a statement posted on their official Twitter account: « We are mourning the passing of legendary former player Roger Hunt.
« The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool Football Club are with Roger’s family and friends at this sad and difficult time. Rest in peace, Sir Roger Hunt 1938-2021. »
Hunt was born in Golborne, Cheshire on July 20, 1938.
He signed for Liverpool in July 1958 and made his final appearance for the club in December 1969.
Hunt was signed by Phil Taylor from non-league Stockton Heath but was kept on by Bill Shankly, and helped the club out of the old Second Division in 1962, going on to win league titles in 1964 and 1966. He also won the FA Cup with Liverpool in 1965.
Hunt won 34 caps for England, scoring 18 goals, and earned his first under Walter Winterbottom in 1962 when Liverpool were still in the second tier.
In that season, he scored 41 goals in as many games for the Reds.
Hunt scored three goals in helping England get out of their group at the 1966 finals, and played in every game such was his importance to Sir Alf Ramsey’s team.
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Hunt’s overall Reds scoring record was broken by Ian Rush in 1992 but no one has yet scored more league goals for the Merseysiders.
Current Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: « It’s really sad news and our thoughts and our love go to his family.
« Unfortunately, it feels too frequent in this moment we are saying farewell to these giants of our club.
Liverpool supporters hold a banner at Anfield paying tribute to Roger Hunt
« Roger Hunt comes second to no one in his importance in the history of Liverpool FC, that much is clear.
« To be the goalscoring catalyst of the Shankly team to actually achieve promotion and then go on to win those precious league titles and the FA Cup puts him in a bracket of LFC legends who are responsible for making us the club we are today. Not only that, he was also a World Cup winner in 1966, too.
« I am told the Kop christened him ‘Sir Roger’ for all his achievements. A goalscorer who never stopped working to help his team-mates; I believe he would have fit in well within our current team.
« So, it is Sir Roger we will remember, honour and pay tribute to over the coming days. You’ll Never Walk Alone. »
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Acknowledging the integral role Hunt played in the 1966 World Cup win, England tweeted: « We’re extremely saddened to learn that Roger Hunt, who was a key member of our @FIFAWorldCup-winning side in 1966, has passed away at the age of 83. Our deepest condolences go to Roger’s family, friends and former clubs. »
The Football Association has announced it will pay tribute to Hunt at Wembley next month.
« English football has lost another great with the passing of Roger Hunt. » said FA Chief Executive Mark Bullingham.
« On behalf of the FA, our thoughts are with his family and friends today. Twice a league champion with Liverpool, either side of a memorable FA Cup success in 1965, Roger will always be treasured by fans across the country as one of our World Cup winners of 1966.
« He will forever be remembered at Wembley Stadium and we will pay tribute to his memory before our home fixture with Hungary next month. »
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Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said: « RIP Sir Roger Hunt one of the greatest goal scorers our club has ever seen. Sir Roger along with the other Legends from the 60’s made @LFC the club it is today. »
The club’s former striker John Aldridge also paid tribute to Hunt, writing on Twitter: « I’m absolutely gutted to hear of the passing away of one, if not THE BEST Lfc strikers SIR ROGER HUNT. What a striker and a true Gentlemen, I had the great pleasure of being with him on many occasions. RIP My Nu 1 Legend and Hero. »
Robbie Fowler, sixth in Liverpool’s all-time record goal-scorers list, added: « Rest in peace, Sir Roger Hunt. »
Liverpool’s Merseyside rivals Everton also gave their condolences: « Our thoughts are with Roger Hunt’s loved ones and everyone at @LFC at this sad time. RIP. »
