We are deeply saddened to learn that former England international and 1966 squad member Norman Hunter has passed away, aged 76.
Hunter won 28 caps for the Three Lions – scoring twice – and was renowned as a fearsome player throughout a career in which he spent the majority at Leeds United.
Born in County Durham, Hunter joined the Whites as a 15 year-old and made his professional debut in 1962, helping them to the second division title two years later playing alongside Jack Charlton at centre-back.
Charlton and Hunter both broke into the England set-up in 1965, respectively becoming the 835th and 840th men to wear the Three Lions badge.
Hunter's international debut came in a friendly win over Spain in Madrid that December – the first of four appearances in the run-up to the following year's World Cup finals on home soil.
He was part of Sir Alf Ramsey's 22-man squad for the finals but could not break up Charlton's partnership with captain Bobby Moore and was an unused substitute throughout the Three Lions' victorious campaign.
Hunter's next run of games came in 1968 when Charlton was absent from the squad. After scoring his first England goal in a European Championship qualifier against Spain, he started both games of that summer's EURO finals in Italy as the Three Lions finished third.
Leeds began to establish themselves as one of England's emerging forces and, after being runners-up in 1965 and 1966, they won the league title in 1969. Hunter also lifted the League Cup and Charity Shield, though he was on the losing side in two FA Cup Finals.
Hunter continued to battle with Charlton, Moore and Brian Labone for a place in the side, and was duly included in Ramsey's squad for the 1970 World Cup but his only appearance was as a substitute in the 3-2 defeat to West Germany that ended England's defence of the trophy.
Charlton's international retirement and the move to a back three offered Hunter more opportunities, but failure to qualify for 1972's European Championship finals and the 1974 World Cup cost Ramsey his job.
On a personal level, though, the 1973-74 season was one of Hunter's best as he won another title with Leeds and collected the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.
Ramsey was replaced by Hunter's club manager, Don Revie, who would give him only one more cap – against Czechoslovakia in October 1974 – as Dave Watson and Colin Todd became the preferred defensive pairing.
Hunter left Leeds in 1976, spending three years with Bristol City before moving to Barnsley, initially as a player and then, from September 1980, as their manager. The Tykes won promotion to the second division at the end of Hunter's first season in charge.
After a two-year spell as Rotherham boss, Hunter moved into the media. In 2009, he was one of 11 members of the 1966 World Cup squad invited to 10 Downing Street to collect their winners' medals following an FA campaign for FIFA to recognise those who did not play in finals prior to 1974.
Hunter is the 11th member of England's only World Cup-winning squad to pass away, following Peter Bonetti’s death earlier this month.
FA Chairman Greg Clarke said: “This is very sad news and my thoughts are with Norman’s wife Sue and his family. I had been privileged to get to know him in recent years with his regular visits to Wembley to support the England team, and was always struck by his passion and knowledge.
“I have a particularly fond memory of being able to see at first hand just how much Norman was revered at Leeds United. When Gareth and the team played at Elland Road just before the last World Cup, it was more than fitting that he was part of our delegation in the suite that bears his name.
“A true giant of the game, Norman won countless honours with Leeds including the league and FA Cup and of course he was a proud member of our 1966 World Cup success, as well as representing the national team at the 1968 European Championship and 1970 World Cup. While he will be especially missed at Leeds, the whole of English football will mourn his passing today.”
The thoughts of everybody at The Football Association and the England set-up are with his family, friends and fans at this difficult time.
