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Supported by Leeds United Supporters Club |
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John Charles
| Category: | Male Player |
| Year Inducted: | 2002 |
Profile by Robert Galvin, the author of Football's Greatest Heroes, the official book of the National Football Museum Hall of Fame:
Tom Finney rated John Charles the best centre-half in Europe; Denis Law shared the same opinion. ‘Mind you,' Law once said, ‘when he plays up front, he's one of the best three centre-forwards I've ever seen play the game.'
At the height of his powers, his exceptional versatility in defence and attack posed a dilemma: his manager had to decide which shirt to give him before a game – number five or number nine.
After signing the Welshman in 1957, Juventus duly adapted their tactics, particularly for away games: Charles would play up front until his team scored, then he'd drop back and help the defence protect their lead.
Tall and immensely strong, Charles never resorted to intimidation – hence his nickname, ‘The Gentle Giant'. Denis Law had no fear playing against him. ‘John was always fair,' Law said. ‘He never, ever did anything nasty.'
Charles first made his name at Leeds United as a centre-half, the position he occupied for more than four seasons at Elland Road. Only then was he belatedly switched to attack. Even so, he still managed to score 164 goals in 318 games for the club.
During one game, after an opposition forward broke the nose of Jack Charlton in an aerial challenge, Charles dropped back to centre-half as cover. ‘The same forward just bounced off John when they went up for a header,' Norman Hunter recalled.
‘John was also very skilful, and he always looked comfortable when he carried the ball out of defence on those trademark runs of his,' Hunter said.
In 1956-57, in only his second season up front, for Leeds he scored 38 goals, making him the leading goalscorer in the First Division. The major Italian clubs took note.
Short of money, Leeds refused to release Charles to a rival English club when they decided to sell him in 1957. He did not agitate for a transfer. ‘Leeds was my team,' Charles said. ‘I loved the place.' In return, the fans called him ‘King John'.
Juventus paid Leeds United a British record fee of £65,000 for the then 25-year-old Charles. Idolised in Turin, Charles was twice Footballer of the Year in Italy.
In his first season in Italy, Charles was leading goalscorer in the top division, with 28 goals in 34 games, as Juventus clinched the title. Over the next four seasons, Juventus added two more League titles and two Italian Cups. In total, Charles scored 93 goals in 150 League games.
Describing Charles as ‘a mythological character in Italy,' Bruno Garzena, a Juventus team-mate, said. ‘He wasn't a normal footballer; he was an extraordinary one. Even now, he's still considered a god in Turin.'
‘In England, footballers were ordinary working men; in Italy they're royalty,' Charles said. ‘I'd been a half-pint of shandy man; now I was drinking the finest red wines and eating pasta, which I'd never tasted before.'
At international level, Charles was a talismanic figure for Wales at the World Cup in Sweden in 1958. Surprise quarter-finalists, the Welshmen lost one-nil against Brazil, the eventual champions. ‘Unfortunately for them,' Pele wrote later, ‘the great John Charles was absent because of injury. He was the one we really feared.'