Death of the legendary Jack Charlton

Former Republic of Ireland manager Jack Charlton has died at the age of 85.

A World Cup winner with England in 1966, Big Jack was appointed Ireland manager in 1986 and brought unprecedented success to the national side.

He guided the Republic to their first major finals at Euro 88 and two more in the space of 10 years, qualifying for the World Cup in Italy in 1990 and four years later in the US in 1994.

Ireland reached the knock-out stages of both World Cups and reached the quarter-finals in 1990, only to lose out by the narrowest of margins, as the hosts denied them a place in the semi-finals with a 1-0 victory in Rome.

His last game in charge of the Irish team was the Euro 96 play-off defeat to Holland at Anfield in December 1995.

The deceased was a frequent visitor to Mayo. He had a holiday home in Ballina and loved nothing better than a few hours fishing on the River Moy.

News of his passing is deeply mourned across the nation.

TRIBUTES

President Michael D. Higgins has extended his sympathies at the passing of Jack Charlton.

He stated: “The news of the death of Jack Charlton will have been received with great sadness by those of us who took him to their hearts as he brought Ireland to some of our most celebrated moments in Irish sporting history.

“He leaves a legacy of outstanding leadership of a group of players of many diverse talents, which he moulded into the successful team that captured the imagination of the nation.

"It was not just the success on the field of play, Jack’s endearing popularity also had much to do with the warmth and personality of the person who quickly became such a legendary sporting icon.

“From a family that loved soccer, he had many connections with Ireland, which he chose for one of his quietest recreations -fishing.

“Sabina and I send our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and his legions of Irish fans.”

As Ireland fans awoke to the sad news of Jack’s death at his Newcastle home, his Captain Fantastic Mick McCarthy and Italia ’90 hero Niall Quinn shed a tear or two for the man who changed their lives.

Both were there when Big Jack stunned his native England at Euro ’88, both were on the pitch when Jack led Ireland into the World Cup quarter-final against Italy two years later and both watched from the stands as Jack gained revenge on the Italians at the 1994 World Cup.

“I’m sure I’m not the only Irish person who shed a tear or two this morning,” Niall told FAI.ie.

“I’m devastated. I am finding it very hard to put into words what Jack meant to the whole country, not just to me and to those of us lucky enough to have played for him in an Ireland shirt.

“Jack Charlton led the band. He brought us, as a players and fans, to places we never thought possible beforehand and gave us so many precious moments. He changed lives. For his players, he gave us the best days of our lives.

“This news has hit me with a bang. We have so much to be grateful to Jack for and I am truly saddened, like so many others, with this news today. Our thoughts go to Pat and Jack’s family who shared that wonderful journey with us. May he rest in peace.”

Captain when Ireland reached the World Cup quarter-finals at Italia ‘90, Mick McCarthy last spoke to Jack on the day after the great man celebrated his 85th birthday in May.

“I loved the bones of the man, I am devastated with this news and my heart goes out to Pat and the family,” said Mick.

“Jack’s passing will touch Ireland, England and the football world but the loss to football will be felt in Ireland more than anywhere else.

“English fans will always remember Jack as one of their World Cup winners in 1966 but what he did with Ireland will, I suspect, mean even more to our fans and the country.

“He turned a really good team into a team that qualified for tournaments and made an impact at them.

"He changed my life, he changed everything for all of us who played for Ireland and just look at the memories we have.

“We will always have Stuttgart and Genoa and Giants Stadium thanks to Jack. That’s how we will remember him, with a great big smile on his face. I know this is a sad day but we will remember the great days as well.

“I did speak to him very briefly the day after his birthday but it was difficult due to his health. I told him I loved the bones of him that day and I always will.”

FAI President Gerry McAnaney has expressed his sympathies to the Charlton family on behalf of the Association and the Irish football community.

“We all have so many memories of Jack Charlton and all of them positive – he was the man who brought the nation to a standstill as we all held our breath back in 1990,” remembered Gerry.

“I know I speak on behalf of everyone involved in Irish football and everyone in Ireland when I extend our sympathies to Pat and the Charlton family.

"Thanks to Jack, they are part of our family now as well and we will never forget what he did for our game and our country.

“He transformed our sport. He changed the way we played football, of course, but he also changed the way the country looked at Irish football.

"He gave Ireland a team to be proud of and the country took him to our hearts in return. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis."