George Cohen, 1939-2022

Once again, this month, England fell out of the World Cup, this time in the Quarterfinal. English fans claiming that at least they have won one are seeing that one drift further and further back into history. And the survivors of that great team just became one fewer.

George Reginald Cohen was born on October 22, 1939 in Kensington, West London. Although of Jewish descent, he was raised in the Church of England. He married Daphne in 1962, and they had 2 sons, Anthony and Andrew. A nephew, Ben Cohen, was a member of the England team that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

He signed with nearby team Fulham Football Club in 1956, and remained with them until an injury ended his career in 1969, before he turned 30. Still, he managed to make 459 appearances for their senior team, which still ranks 6th all-time for them. George Best of Manchester United called him "the best fullback I ever played against."

In 1964, he made his senior debut for the England national team in a win over Uruguay. He replaced the injured Jimmy Armfield of Blackpool as England's 1st choice right back. With manager Alf Ramsey playing without wingers -- England were known as the Wingless Wonders -- attacking fullbacks like Cohen on the right and Everton's Ray Wilson on the left strengthened the offense.

In the wake of Argentina's win in the recent World Cup, it has gone unsaid that they are a very dirty team. They have been one since at least 1966: After England eliminated them in the Quarterfinal, Cohen was willing to engage in the traditional shirt-swap with an Argentine player, but Ramsey wouldn't let him, telling the press that they were "animals."

Cohen was named Vice-Captain behind Captain Bobby Moore, centreback for East London team West Ham United, for the Final against West Germany. England won in extra time, 4-2. But injury would limit him, and he played his last match for England against Northern Ireland the following year, making him the last of the starting XI to stop playing for England.

Fulham later hired him to coach their Fulham's youth team, and dedicated a statue of him outside their stadium, Craven Cottage. He was involved in raising money to fight the conditions that have claimed the lives of most of his 1966 England teammates, cancer and dementia. He was awarded an MBE in 2000.

George Cohen died this morning, December 23, 2022. He was 83 years old.

"Very sad to hear my friend and England team-mate has died," said Sir Geoff Hurst, who scored a hat trick in the 1966 Final. "Everyone, without exception, always said that George was such a lovely man. He will be sadly missed, my heartfelt thoughts are with George's wife Daphne and his family," Hurst added on Twitter.

Cohen's former Fulham teammate Alan Mullery, a member of England's 1970 World Cup team, told BBC 5 Live, "I've just got a kick in the teeth. He's not been well for some time now. George had a wonderful life, he's got a wonderful family, and he was a terrific player to play with."

Gary Lineker, host of BBC's Match of the Day and a player for England in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, wrote on Twitter, "Sorry to hear that George Cohen has died. Another of the heroes of the '66 World Cup winning team leaves us. He'll always have footballing immortality. RIP George."

Frank Lampard, manager of Liverpool-based Everton, a former star at Chelsea, and a player for England in the World Cups of 2006, 2010 and 2014, said, "We would like to pass on our deep condolences to George's family and friends at this sad time. I always was drawn to that group of players, and it is always more than a shame when we lose one of those players."

With George Cohen's death, there are 5 players still alive from England's 1966 World Cup winners: The aforementioned Geoff Hurst, Bobby Charlton, Terry Paine, Ian Callaghan and George Eastham. Hurst and Charlton are the last 2 who played in the Final.