"Immaculate footballer. Imperial defender. Immortal hero of 1966. First Englishman to raise the World Cup aloft. Favourite son of London's East End. Finest legend of West Ham United. National Treasure. Master of Wembley. Lord of the game. Captain extraordinary. Gentleman of all time."
Anyone who visits the new Wembley Stadium and sees the bronze statue of Bobby Moore standing majestically over Wembley Way may happen to read the above inscription, composed by Daily Mail columnist and personal friend Jeff Powell. In life and in death, the legendary centre-back has received tributes from people of all walks of life, yet all are united by common theme: that this man was a truly remarkable footballer.
Both Pele and Franz Beckenbauer rated him as a gentleman, friend and the greatest defender they ever played against. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair said of Moore: “He was a superb footballer. If you wanted a role model from public life, Bobby Moore is a pretty good one to take."England's 1966 FIFA World Cup™-winning coach, Sir Alf Ramsey, described him as follows: “My captain, my leader, my right-hand man. He was the spirit and the heartbeat of the team. A cool, calculating footballer I could trust with my life. He was the supreme professional, the best I ever worked with. Without him England would never have won the World Cup.
source:http://www.fifa.com
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