For David Beckham his former trainer Norbert "Nobby" Stiles was always someone special. Now he has died at the age of 78.
The English football world mourns the loss of one of its 1966 world champions. Nobert "Nobby" Stiles "passed away peacefully with his family after a long illness" on Friday (October 30th). This was announced by his family in a statement that was picked up by several British media outlets. Stiles, known among other things as a toothless midfielder, lived to be 78 years old.
David Beckham: "I will be forever grateful"
David Beckham (45) is one of the people who was able to learn personally from the soccer world champion. He was "sad to hear the news from Nobby today," he wrote on Instagram. The paths of the two men crossed at the Manchester United football club in the early 1990s. Beckham played with the juniors, Stiles worked as a youth coach. "I will forever be grateful for the support and passion he showed me and all the other players on the youth team when we were little," said the 45-year-old farewell.
Beckham and his teammates at the time were fortunate to have "learned from many greats at Manchester United". But Stiles was always someone special in her eyes, "Nobby was world champion". "Thank you very much for everything, Nobby, we will always remember you, as the greats of the club and England, but above all as our coach."