Jack Charlton facts for kids
Charlton in 1969
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | John Charlton | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 8 May 1935 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Ashington, Northumberland, England | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 10 July 2020 (aged 85) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Northumberland, England | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1+1⁄2 in (1.87 m) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1950–1952 | Leeds United | ||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||||||||
| 1952–1973 | Leeds United | 629 | (70) | ||||||||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1965–1970 | England | 35 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||
| Teams managed | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1973–1977 | Middlesbrough | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1977–1983 | Sheffield Wednesday | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1984 | Middlesbrough (caretaker) | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1984–1985 | Newcastle United | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1986–1996 | Republic of Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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John Charlton (8 May 1935 – 10 July 2020) was a famous English footballer and manager. People often called him Jack. He played as a defender. Jack was a key part of the England team that won the World Cup in 1966. Later, he managed the Republic of Ireland team from 1986 to 1996. He led them to two World Cup appearances and one European Championship.
Jack spent his whole club career playing for Leeds United from 1950 to 1973. He helped the club win many titles. These included the Second Division title (1963–64), the First Division title (1968–69), and the FA Cup (1972). He also helped them win the League Cup (1968) and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup twice (1968 and 1971). He played in a record 762 games for Leeds United. Jack was the older brother of Bobby Charlton, another famous footballer who was also on the 1966 World Cup-winning team. In 2006, Leeds United fans voted Jack into the club's greatest ever team.
Jack was called up to the England team just before his 30th birthday. He scored six goals in 35 international games. He played in two World Cups and one European Championship. He was a key player in the 1966 World Cup final win against West Germany. He also helped England finish third in Euro 1968. In 1967, he was named FWA Footballer of the Year, a top award for players.
After he stopped playing, Jack became a manager. He led Middlesbrough to the Second Division title in his first season (1973–74). He also won the Manager of the Year award that year. He then managed Sheffield Wednesday, helping them get promoted from the Third Division in 1979–80. He also had short spells managing Newcastle United and a second time at Middlesbrough. His most famous managing role was with the Republic of Ireland. He led them to their first World Cup in 1990, where they reached the quarter-finals. He also guided them to Euro 1988 and the 1994 World Cup. He retired in 1996.
Contents
Jack Charlton's Early Life
Jack Charlton was born into a football-loving family in Ashington, Northumberland, on 8 May 1935. His younger brother, Bobby, became a star player for Manchester United. Jack's uncles were also footballers, including Jackie Milburn, a legend for Newcastle United and England.
Ashington was a mining village, and Jack's father was a miner. Jack was the oldest of four brothers. Money was tight, so all four brothers shared one bed. His father wasn't interested in football, but his mother, Cissie, played football with her children. She even coached the local school team. As a teenager, she took them to watch local teams play. Jack remained a lifelong Newcastle United fan.
When he was 15, Jack was offered a trial at Leeds United. His uncle Jim played there. But Jack turned it down to work in the mines with his father. He soon found mining very difficult and unpleasant. He quit and decided to try for the police force. He also reconsidered the offer from Leeds United. His trial game for Leeds happened on the same day as his police interview. Jack chose football. The trial was a success, and he joined Leeds United's ground staff at Elland Road.
Playing for Leeds United
Jack Charlton started playing for Leeds United's youth team. He then moved up to the third team in the Yorkshire Football League. Playing in this tough league at just 16 years old impressed the club. He was soon promoted to the reserve team. Jack signed his first professional contract when he turned 17.
He made his first team debut on 25 April 1953 against Doncaster Rovers. This was the last game of the 1952–53 season. After this, he had to do two years of national service with the Household Cavalry. This limited his games for Leeds at first.
Jack returned to the first team in September 1955. He helped Leeds win promotion to the First Division in the 1955–56 season. He was dropped for a while in 1956–57 because he was partying too much. But he got his place back in 1957–58 after he got married and settled down.
Leeds struggled for a few years, even getting relegated in 1959–60. During this time, Jack started taking coaching courses. In 1961, Don Revie became manager. At first, Revie wasn't sure about Jack. Jack even played as a forward for a short time. He felt stuck at Leeds while his brother Bobby was very successful at Manchester United. Revie considered letting Jack leave, and Liverpool and Manchester United were interested. But Jack decided to stay at Leeds and promised Revie he would be more professional.
Becoming a Key Defender
The 1962–63 season was a new beginning for Leeds. Revie started to build a strong team. Jack became a key part of the defence. He took charge of the defence and used a special "zonal marking" system. This meant players marked areas, not just opponents. This new defence, including Gary Sprake, Paul Reaney, Norman Hunter, and Jack, became very strong.
Leeds won promotion as champions in the 1963–64 season. They then made a big impact in the top league. In the 1964–65 season, they went 25 games unbeaten. They finished second in the league and reached the FA Cup final, but lost to Liverpool.
In the 1965–66 season, Leeds finished second in the league again. They also reached the semi-finals of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, their first European competition. In 1967, Jack was named FWA Footballer of the Year. He was known for his funny stories and became a popular speaker at events.
Winning Trophies with Leeds
In the 1967–68 season, Jack started a new tactic. During corners, he would stand next to the goalkeeper to stop him from catching the ball. This caused problems for opposing teams and is still used today. Leeds won their first major trophies that season. They beat Arsenal 1–0 in the League Cup final. They also won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup by beating Ferencvárosi 1–0 over two games.
Jack helped Leeds win their first ever Football League title in 1968–69. They lost only two games all season. Liverpool manager Bill Shankly even told them they were "worthy champions."
The 1969–70 season started with Leeds winning the Charity Shield. They hoped to win three major trophies (the league, FA Cup, and European Cup). But they missed out on all of them. They lost the league title to Everton. They were knocked out of the European Cup by Celtic. They also lost the FA Cup final replay 2–1 to Chelsea.
In 1970–71, Jack caused a small stir when he mentioned having a "little black book" of players he intended to challenge hard. He explained he meant he remembered players who had made bad tackles on him and would challenge them fairly but firmly. Leeds finished second in the league again. They won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup for a second time, beating Juventus on the away goals rule.
Leeds finished second in the league for the third time in a row in 1971–72. But Jack finally completed his collection of domestic trophies. Leeds beat Arsenal 1–0 in the FA Cup final. Jack played a great game, keeping Arsenal's star player quiet.
In the 1972–73 season, Jack played fewer games due to injury. He got injured in the FA Cup semi-final, which ended his season. He announced his retirement after failing to get fit for the final. He played his farewell game against Celtic and received a large sum of money from the match.
Jack Charlton's International Career
Jack Charlton was nearly 30 years old when he was first called up to play for England. His debut was against Scotland at Wembley on 10 April 1965. England manager Alf Ramsey chose Jack to play alongside Bobby Moore. Jack was a solid defender who could cover for the more skillful Moore. This defence, with Gordon Banks in goal, became very strong.
Jack played in all nine England games in 1965. He scored his first international goal on 26 June 1966, against Finland. He scored again against Denmark shortly after.
Winning the 1966 World Cup
England started the 1966 FIFA World Cup with a 0–0 draw against Uruguay. They then beat Mexico 2–0 and France 2–0. Jack played a key role in these wins.
In the quarter-finals, England beat Argentina 1–0. In the semi-finals, they faced Portugal. Jack gave away a penalty, but England still won 2–1.
The final was against West Germany at Wembley. West Germany scored first, but England came back. Jack gave away a free kick late in the game, which led to West Germany's equalizing goal. But Geoff Hurst scored two goals in extra-time, and England won 4–2. Jack Charlton was a World Cup winner!
After the World Cup, Jack continued to play for England. He was part of the squad for UEFA Euro 1968, where England finished third. He played his 35th and final England game at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. England lost in the quarter-finals. On the flight home, Jack told manager Alf Ramsey he was retiring from international football.
Jack Charlton's Managerial Career
Jack Charlton became manager of Middlesbrough in the Second Division on his 38th birthday in 1973. He took full control of the club and refused a contract, preferring a "gentleman's agreement." He wanted three days off a week for fishing and shooting!
He built a championship-winning team. Middlesbrough won promotion to the First Division in the 1973–74 season with seven games to spare. They won the title by a huge 15-point margin. Jack was named Manager of the Year, the first time a manager outside the top league won this award.
Middlesbrough finished seventh in the First Division in 1974–75. They also won the Anglo-Scottish Cup in 1975–76. Jack left Middlesbrough in April 1977, feeling he had taken the team as far as he could.
Managing Sheffield Wednesday
In October 1977, Jack took over Sheffield Wednesday, who were at the bottom of the Third Division. He aimed to play long balls into the opponent's box and sign tall defenders. He guided them to safety in his first season.
He signed Andrew McCulloch and Terry Curran to boost the attack. In the 1979–80 season, Wednesday secured promotion to the Second Division, finishing third. Curran was the division's top scorer.
Wednesday continued to improve. In 1981–82, they just missed out on promotion to the First Division. In 1982–83, they reached the FA Cup semi-finals but lost to Brighton. Jack left Sheffield Wednesday in May 1983.
He had a short caretaker spell back at Middlesbrough in 1984, helping them avoid relegation.
Managing Newcastle United
Jack became manager of Newcastle United in June 1984. He had little money to spend but had young talents like Chris Waddle and Peter Beardsley. Newcastle finished safely in 14th place in the 1984–85 season. A young Paul Gascoigne was also about to join the first team.
Jack resigned from Newcastle in August 1985 after fans started to complain.
Leading the Republic of Ireland
Jack Charlton was asked to manage the Republic of Ireland in December 1985. His first game was a 1–0 loss to Wales. But soon, he developed his tactics. He used a traditional British 4–4–2 system. He told his players to pressure opponents and force them into mistakes.
Euro 1988 Success
Ireland's journey to Euro 1988 meant winning their qualifying group. They drew with Belgium and Scotland, then beat Scotland 1–0 away. They had to rely on Scotland beating Bulgaria in the last game, which they did! This meant Ireland qualified for their first major tournament.
At Euro 1988 in West Germany, Ireland's first match was against England. Jack's plan worked, and Ireland won 1–0 with an early goal from Ray Houghton. They then drew 1–1 with the Soviet Union. To qualify for the next round, they needed a point against the Netherlands. But they lost 1–0 in the 82nd minute. England and Ireland were out, but the Dutch went on to win the tournament.
1990 World Cup Journey
Qualification for the 1990 World Cup in Italy was next. Ireland were in a tough group with Spain and Northern Ireland. They started with two draws, but then won all four home games. They secured their place in their first World Cup with a 2–0 win over Malta.
In Italy, Ireland's group opponents were England, Egypt, and the Netherlands. They drew 1–1 with England, 0–0 with Egypt, and 1–1 with the Dutch. All three draws meant Ireland qualified for the knockout stage!
Ireland then faced Romania in the second round. The game ended 0–0, and Ireland won on penalties. This was a huge moment for the country. After the win, the team even met Pope John Paul II at the Vatican.
Ireland's amazing journey ended in the quarter-finals. They lost 1–0 to the host country, Italy. When the team returned to Dublin, over 500,000 people came out to welcome them home.
Euro 1992 and 1994 World Cup
Ireland tried to qualify for Euro 92. They had a strong start, drawing twice with England. But they missed out on the tournament when England scored a late goal in another game.
For the 1994 World Cup in the US, Ireland were in a seven-team group. They beat weaker teams like Lithuania, Latvia, and Albania. They drew 0–0 away to Denmark and Spain. A key game was against Northern Ireland in Belfast during a difficult time. Ireland drew 1–1, with Alan McLoughlin scoring the crucial equalizer. This secured second place in the group and qualification for the World Cup!
At the 1994 World Cup, Ireland started by beating Italy 1–0, with Ray Houghton scoring again. They then lost 2–1 to Mexico. Jack was suspended for the final group game against Norway, which ended in a 0–0 draw. Ireland qualified for the next round. They faced the Netherlands in the Round of 16 but lost 2–0.
In 1994, Jack was given the Freedom of the City of Dublin, a very high honour. He was the first Englishman to receive it since 1854.
Euro 1996 Qualification and Retirement
Ireland failed to qualify for Euro 96. They started well, but injuries to key players hurt the team. They had an embarrassing 0–0 draw with Liechtenstein and lost twice to Austria. They finished second in their group. This meant they had to play a play-off game against the Netherlands. Ireland lost 2–0. Jack Charlton resigned shortly after the game in January 1996.
Jack Charlton's Personal Life
Jack Charlton married Pat Kemp on 6 January 1958. His brother Bobby was his best man. They had three children: John, Deborah, and Peter.
Jack was a very keen fisherman and enjoyed field sports. He was also a socialist and supported the Anti-Nazi League. He and his wife supported the miners' strike of 1984-85.
He was given an OBE award in 1974. In 1996, he was given honorary Irish citizenship, a very rare and high honour. He was also made a Freeman of Dublin in 1994. In 2005, he was added to the English Football Hall of Fame. There is a life-size statue of him at Cork Airport in Ireland, showing him fishing.
Jack wrote in his 1996 autobiography that he had a difficult relationship with his brother Bobby. Despite this, Jack presented Bobby with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
Jack Charlton's Death
Jack Charlton passed away at his home in Northumberland on 10 July 2020, at the age of 85. He had been suffering from lymphoma and dementia. The day after his death, his former club Leeds United won a game with a last-minute goal. The goalscorer dedicated it to Jack.
On 20 July, Irish fans gathered at a roundabout in Dublin to remember Jack. They recreated a famous celebration from the 1990 World Cup. The official song from Ireland's 1990 campaign, Put 'Em Under Pressure, was played on national radio. This song features Jack's voice. People remembered the man who led Ireland to their first major tournaments.
Jack Charlton was the 12th player from the 1966 FIFA World Cup squad to die.
Honours
Player
Leeds United
- Football League First Division: 1968–69
- Football League Second Division: 1963–64
- FA Cup: 1971–72
- Football League Cup: 1967–68
- FA Charity Shield: 1969
- Inter-Cities Fairs Cup: 1967–68, 1970–71
England
- British Home Championship: 1964–65, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69
- FIFA World Cup: 1966
- UEFA European Championship third place: 1968
Individual
- FWA Footballer of the Year: 1967
- English Football Hall of Fame: 2005
- PFA Team of the Century (1907–1976): 2007
Manager
Middlesbrough
- Football League Second Division: 1973–74
- Anglo-Scottish Cup: 1975–76
Sheffield Wednesday
- Football League Third Division third-place promotion: 1979–80
Republic of Ireland
- Iceland Triangular Tournament: 1986
Individual
- English Manager of the Year winner: 1974
- Philips Sports Manager of the Year: 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993
Images for kids
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Charlton tackling Johan Cruyff during a match between England and the Netherlands in 1969.
See also
In Spanish: Jack Charlton para niños
- Put 'Em Under Pressure, the official song to the Republic of Ireland national football team's 1990 FIFA World Cup campaign in Italy.
