Whereas the term “Gentle Giant” has become more or less a cliché, John Charles of Wales was the real thing, the embodiment of fair play. Never once in his 25 years playing football was he even cautioned, let alone sent off.
And yet, with all that, he is still reckoned to be one of the greatest-ever British footballers, this 6ft 2ins giant with the powerful and accurate shot in both feet, and the lethal heading ability.
Bobby Charlton called him “incomparable” and classed him alongside Pele, Maradona and George Best. He said he was the only footballing “great” to be “world class in two very different positions — centre back and centre forward.”
Bobby’s brother Jack said, “If I was asked who was the most effective player I ever saw, the one who made the most difference to the whole team — without question, John Charles.”
Think of it: In 297 appearances for Leeds he scored 157 goals. When he was transferred to Juventus he scored 108 goals in 155 appearances. No wonder Jimmy Greaves said, “If I were picking a World Team, John Charles would be in it.”
And no wonder, either, Big Jack said, “John Charles was a team unto himself.”
John told me in his strong Welsh accent that he’d loved his time in Italy, playing for Juventus.
He was very happy to hear that in my proposed world international soccer museum there would be a Leeds showcase. The picture here shows me with those two Leeds United legends, John Charles and Peter Lorimor, holding a picture of the proposed museum.
