Sir Bobby Charlton will for ever be associated with the European Cup. It was the root of his two most significant days as a Manchester United player, making Copenhagen’s visit to Old Trafford a perfect night for respects to be paid to a legend.
Charlton survived the plane crash in Munich on the way back from a match against Red Star Belgrade in 1958 and a decade later he scored in the 4-1 final triumph over Benfica. Overcoming adversity was key but did not define his life – his medals and humility did that.
There was never any doubt the minute’s silence would be impeccably observed by all inside Old Trafford, many in the stand named after their late hero. The roar once the referee’s whistle had blown a reminder of what a European night means to United, thanks to Charlton making the club synonymous with the competition.
“There is nothing ever going to be better than this,” he said of seeing United come back in the final seconds of the 1999 final against Bayern Munich. He took the team up the steps to lift the trophy in Moscow in 2008, too, maintaining his record of seeing every Manchester United European Cup success.
A must-win group game against Copenhagen might not have quite the same gravitas but when the Old Trafford lights shine, there will always be a sense of expectation from what has gone before even if the current crop cannot match them.
It was Charlton who christened Old Trafford “the Theatre of Dreams”. He lived out many within these surroundings, etching goals into the minds of thousands who still just need to close their eyes to witness a rocketing shot of his fly past a goalkeeper. It does not matter if they were old enough to see him play, United fans of every generation know what Charlton did on the pitch.
Denis Law and George Best stand alongside Charlton outside the ground with a sea of scarves, flowers and shirts left by mourners beneath them. Few trios have come close to replicating what they did for United and this current crop will need much improvement to exit their shadow.
It is the competition in which Wayne Rooney made his Manchester United debut and began his successful chase of Charlton for the club’s goal-scoring record with a hat-trick against Fenerbahce. Charlton and the Busby Babes set the standard for the European Cup and will always be a reference point.
Charlton’s former teammates Alex Stepney, Brian Kidd and Paddy Crerand were in attendance, adding their names to the 15,000 others who have left a message in the book of condolence at the ground. Stepney accompanied Erik ten Hag, youth team captain Dan Gore and a piper playing “Man United will never die” to lay a wreath in the centre circle.
It was symbolic for the past, present and future of United to be involved in the ceremony. Gore, the 247th and most recent academy graduate, will remember this moment and take it forward, bringing Charlton’s influence to the next generation.
They were watched on their walk from the tunnel to the pitch by a packed stadium. “One Bobby Charlton” chants began with 10 minutes to go until kick-off and returned once the silence concluded. No one wanted to miss paying their respects to a humble man adored throughout football, whether they had first-hand experience of Charlton or not. There was no requirement to hush stragglers as the notes of the bagpipes said what everyone in the ground wanted to: “United will never die.”
Arriving early gave spectators the chance to reminisce. Grandparents explained to grandchildren before the match the impact Charlton had on them and the reason why he was so lauded, and anecdotes were shared of meetings fans had with their hero.
The desperation to honour his memory in the match had a detrimental effect on the players, who looked nervous in the opening stages. The tension was eventually relieved when Harry Maguire headed home but the true drama was left for injury time when André Onana saved Jacob Larsson’s penalty. It certainly has not got better than this for the goalkeeper at United.
As someone who came up through the ranks, Charlton always took great pleasure in seeing others do likewise. Marcus Rashford and Scott McTominay were the ones selected here to continue the tradition, to show the conveyor belt is still working.
Empty seats are a rarity at Old Trafford – the only one was in the directors’ box where a wreath was placed where Charlton would sit. Like the on-pitch tribute, the message was simple but poignant: “Loved, adored, never forgotten.” The tributes were, like the man, understated but impactful.
Talk in the days after Charlton’s death have turned to how he can inspire this team against Sheffield United and Copenhagen. At every turn around Old Trafford reminders of Charlton, from his statue to stand, will remain. He was honoured on Tuesday but his legacy will continue to inspire.
