1. George Reginald Cohen was an English professional footballer who played as a right-back.
18 Facts About George Cohen
1. 2.
George Cohen spent his entire professional career with Fulham and won the 1966 FIFA World Cup with England.
3.
George Cohen is a member of the English Football Hall of Fame and was the uncle of rugby union World Cup winner Ben Cohen.
4.
George Cohen ended his career with 459 appearances for the club, a figure surpassed by only five other players in Fulham's history.
5.
Armfield managed two more caps in preparation for the 1966 tournament after regaining his fitness, but George Cohen was Ramsey's first choice by the time the England-hosted competition started.
6.
George Cohen was the first of England's 1966 XI to retire from international football.
7.
Manchester United's George Best described Cohen as "the best full-back I ever played against," while Alf Ramsey called Cohen "England's greatest right-back".
8.
George Cohen was awarded the MBE in 2000, along with four teammates from 1966 after a campaign from sections of the media who were surprised that the quintet had never been officially recognised for their part in England's success.
9.
In October 2016, a statue of George Cohen was unveiled at Craven Cottage by club chairman Shahid Khan to commemorate their former player and mark the 50th anniversary of the England World Cup win.
10.
George Cohen was one of four veterans of the 1966 team to make it.
11.
George Cohen's attacking intent has been regarded as an encouragement for modern day full-backs as well.
12.
George Cohen was a frequent guest at functions around the country as well as at Craven Cottage raising money for cancer charities.
13.
George Cohen hosted a luncheon before every home game at Craven Cottage in the George Cohen Restaurant.
14.
In 2010, George Cohen criticized changes to the design of footballs following the intense criticism of the Adidas Jabulani used at the 2010 World Cup.
15.
George Cohen was known for being vocal in his demands for a public inquiry into dementia in football, following research that suggested ex-professionals were more than three times at risk of getting the condition.
16.
George Cohen had a history of bowel cancer, being first diagnosed with the condition in 1976.
17.
George Cohen's nephew Ben Cohen is an English former rugby union player and Rugby World Cup winner with England in 2003.
18.
George Cohen was known as one of the few "greatest one-trophy wonders", winning solely a World Cup winner's medal in his career.