Sad passing of Jack Charlton
The annus horribilis that is 2020 took another turn this morning with the sad news of the passing of former Republic of Ireland manager Jack Charlton.
Almost singlehandidly responsible for putting the Republic of Ireland soccer team on the world map, England World Cup winner in 1966 Charlton passed away at his home in Northumberland on Friday aged 85 years after a short battle with lymphoma in the last year, he was also battling dementia.
Like a bolt from the blue Big Jack, as he was affectionately known, came from almost no where to be appointed Republic of Ireland manager in 1986 beating Bob Paisley to the role.
The shock appointment proved to be a masterstroke as Charlton led the Republic of Ireland to unprecedented success when he guided the team to their first major tournament at the Euros in 1988.
Within the next six year the good times continued to roll as Big Jack also oversaw qualification for World Cup 1990 in Italy and again four years later for World Cup '94 in the USA.
Ireland reached the knock-out stages of both World Cups and reached the quarter-finals in 1990, only to lose out by the narrowest of margins to a Toto Schillachi goal, as the hosts Italy denied them a place in the semi-finals with a 1-0 victory in Rome.
The Euro 88 adventure will be forever remember for when Ray Houghton stuck the ball in the English net and any lingering doubts surrounding English legend Charlton's commitment to Ireland were dispelled as he celebrated emotionally with the Irish fans after that historic victory.
Six years later Houghton again provided the goal as Charlton masterminded Ireland's greatest ever result in their World Cup history with victory over the mighty Italians in New Jersey.
Charlton's last game in charge of the Irish team was the Euro 96 play-off defeat to the Netherlands, where the Dutch claimed the final spot at the tournament thanks to a 2-0 victory at Anfield in December 1995.
Charlton spent his entire 21-year playing career at Leeds, making a joint club record 773 appearances, before retiring as a player in 1973 and going on to enjoy a successful and colourful career as a manager.
He had spells in charge of Sheffield Wednesday, Middlesbrough and his hometown club Newcastle where he gave Paul Gascoigne his professional debut.
However it will be as the charismatic, no-nonsense, straight-forward manager of the Republic of Ireland that Charlton will be best remembered in this country.
A man of the people his approach and attitude to football was concentrated and serious, but he also insisted his players enjoyed themselves on and off the pitch and that endeared him even more to the Irish fans.
Charlton was an honourary Irishman and his passing has left the country in mourning just as much here as in his home country where he was also one of the revered players that won the World Cup in 1966.
Rest in peace and thanks for the memories Big Jack, you made our little country a better place.