FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter has written to the Football Association to express his sorrow at the death of 1966 FIFA World Cup™ winner John Connelly.
Connelly,
a winger during his playing career who represented Burnley, Manchester
United, Blackburn Rovers and Bury, passed away on Thursday at the age of
74.
A starter in their first match of the
tournament against Uruguay, Connelly was a member of the Three Lions
squad which lifted the FIFA World Cup on home soil in 1966. In total, he
scored seven goals in 20 appearances for his country.
In a letter to FA chairman David Bernstein, Blatter wrote: “I would like to express my sympathy for the sad loss of former England international John Connelly yesterday morning.
“John
will be remembered in particular for his part in Burnley’s
championship-winning season of 1960, in which he was the club’s top
scorer, and for later helping Manchester United to the 1965 league
title.
“He also won 20 caps for England and was a member of England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad, in honour of which he was awarded a World Cup winner’s medal.
“On
behalf of the members of the international football family, I should be
grateful if you could extend our deepest condolences to John’s family,
friends and loved ones.”
