In 1958 Wales was beaten by Brazil in the quarter final of the World Cup, thanks to a deflected goal from Pele. John Charles was missing from the Wales team, having been kicked black and blue by Hungary some days before. Another one of football’s great what ifs?
In his five years at Juventus he scored 93 goals in 155 matches, winning the Scudetto three times, and the Italian Cup twice.
Accolades from Italian fans: Charles was voted 'the greatest foreign player ever in Serie A' (1997)
Juventus fans have voted him to be the best-ever foreign player to play for their team.
When Journalists selected an all time Serie A XI he was chosen at both centre back and centre forward.
The great Sir Bobby Robson also noted that Charles is the only footballing great to be world class in two very different positions.
Surely worth a place in anybody’s all time team?
