Bobby Moore Biography

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KICKOFF : 

If someone asks about the best defender of all eras in the game of soccer, one name that pops up in our mind is that of Bobby Moore. The man, who earned fame by leading his team to win the 1966 World FootballCup, is considered as one of the greatest footballers of all time and the greatest defender as regarded by legendary Brazilian footballer Pele. He won for his England team a total of 108 caps which was a national record at the time of his retirement in 1973.

HIS-STORY : 

Born to Robert Moore and Doris Moore, Bobby Moore was the only son of his parents. He was born and brought up in Barking, Essex and attended Westbury Primary School and later on Tom Hood Technical High School, Leyton. He was grown playing soccer for both the schools.

In the year 1956, he joined West Ham United as a footballer and after progressing through their youth structure, he played his first game against Manchester United on 8th September, 1958. He replaced his mentor Malcolm Allison who was suffering from tuberculosis at that time and put in his number six shirt. He recalls in his biography “When Malcolm was coaching schoolboys he took a liking to me when I don’t think anyone else at West Ham saw anything special in me… I looked up to the man. It’s not too strong to say I loved him.” Moore was widely regarded as a composed central defender and was highly revered for his ability of analyzing the game and also the opposition moves, cleverly. He eventually distanced himself from the image of a high-jumping and hardtackling defender.

In the year 1960, Moore was invited to play for the England under-23 squad. Looking to his form he was called up by Walter Winterbottom (first manager of England football team) and the Football Association selection committee to play for England team in 1962. Bobby Moore captained his team for the first time in 1963 when he was 22 years old becoming the youngest captain ever at the highest level. In 1965 Bobby Moore lifted the European Cup Winners Cup and by that time he became the first choice captain for England with most caps. In 1966 he led his team to win the FIFA World Cup and became instantly a national icon. He again led his team in the 1970 FIFA World Cup and carried the team up to the quarter finals. He retired playing professionally in the year 1974 and became manager of Southend United in 1984. His life after football became stressful due to poor business dealings and an unsuccessful marriage but in 1990 he joined London radio station as a commentator and football analyst. He was diagnosed with colon cancer and underwent emergency surgery in 1991 and in 1993 died from bowel and liver cancer at the age of 51.

SCORE BOARD : 

Bobby Moore proved to be one of the toughest defenders in the game and West Ham in his time played magnificent and memorable matches around the globe. He first lifted the FA Cup, the annual knockout tournament in 1964 when West Ham defeated Preston North End by 3-2 at the finals. He was subsequently bestowed with the honor of Football Writers Association Footballer of the Year award. In following year, he lifted the European Cup Winners Cup after his team defeated 1860 Munich with clear 2-0. The major success came in 1966 World Football Cup in which he led the English team to defeat West Germany by 4-2. After the World Cup he instantly became a star icon and was honored with the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year award and also became the first footballer to be so.

He was again named the captain of the English team in the following World Football Cup where his experience was bittersweet and finally carried the team on his shoulders to the quarter-finals. In the year 1973, he created another record of most appearances (509 times) for the West Ham club and three days earlier, won his 100th cap for his country in a clear win-over of 5-0 against Scotland. He was also bestowed with several other honors like West Ham Player of the Year four times, FWA Footballer of the Year, induction in English football hall of fame, induction in FIFA World Cup All-Time Team (1994) and World Team of the 20th Century (1998). EXTRA TIME: In 1960, Bobby Moore married Christiana Dean with whom he was in a relationship for four years and they had a son and daughter. They got divorced in 1986 and Moore married Stephanie Parlane-Moore in 1991.At the age of 29, he became the first active footballer to appear on a TV guest show “This is Your Life” in 1971. He also appeared in the 1981 film “Escape to Victory” and several other cameo roles for British TV series ‘Till Death Do Us Part’. After his death, his wife Stephanie Moore formed charity fund named Bobby Moore Fund in 1993.

TIE BREAKER : 

Bobby Moore is considered an ideal personality across the world and especially in his country for his contribution to English football.