England World Cup winner Roger Hunt dies aged 83
28 September 2021, 12:30 | Updated: 28 September 2021, 13:08
England World Cup winner and Liverpool star Roger Hunt has died aged 83, the club have announced.
Liverpool FC said in a statement posted on their official Twitter account: "We are mourning the passing of legendary former player Roger Hunt.
"The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool Football Club are with Roger's family and friends at this sad and difficult time. Rest in peace, Sir Roger Hunt 1938 - 2021."
Hunt was Liverpool's record league goalscorer and also part of England's 1966 World Cup-winning line-up.
He scored an unrivalled 244 league goals for the Reds.
The footballer signed for Liverpool in July 1958 and made his final appearance for the club in December 1969.
He also won 34 caps for England, scoring 18 goals, and earned his first under Walter Winterbottom in 1962 when Liverpool were still in the second tier. In that season, he scored 41 goals in as many games for the Reds.
Hunt scored three goals in helping England get out of their group at the 1966 finals, and played in every game such was his importance to Sir Alf Ramsey's team.
Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge paid tribute to Hunt, writing on Twitter: "I'm absolutely gutted to hear of the passing away of one, if not THE BEST Lfc strikers SIR ROGER HUNT.
"What a striker and a true Gentlemen, I had the great pleasure of being with him on many occasions.RIP My Nu 1 Legend and Hero."
Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher added: "RIP Sir Roger Hunt one of the greatest goal scorers our club has ever seen.
"Sir Roger along with the other Legends from the 60's made @LFC the club it is today."
Current Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: "It's really sad news and our thoughts and our love go to his family.
"Unfortunately, it feels too frequent in this moment we are saying farewell to these giants of our club.
"Roger Hunt comes second to no one in his importance in the history of Liverpool FC, that much is clear.
"To be the goalscoring catalyst of the Shankly team to actually achieve promotion and then go on to win those precious league titles and the FA Cup puts him in a bracket of LFC legends who are responsible for making us the club we are today. Not only that, he was also a World Cup winner in 1966, too.
"I am told the Kop christened him 'Sir Roger' for all his achievements.
"A goalscorer who never stopped working to help his team-mates; I believe he would have fit in well within our current team.
"So, it is Sir Roger we will remember, honour and pay tribute to over the coming days. You'll Never Walk Alone."
