In this article I will be giving a brief look at some of the best tributes to players who are no longer with us and are remembered by fans and fellow professional athletes. Some of these tributes include a great article by David De Gea who pays a lovely tribute to both Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard. Other tributes include Mark Charlton who has some words for today’s players.
David De Gea pays tribute to Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard
There are a lot of changes at Manchester United in recent weeks. Two of the most senior stars have left, Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard. It’s an emotional time for both players. The former has just been ruled out of Sunday’s clash with Liverpool, and the latter has been set to leave the club on free transfer.
De Gea has been the United goalkeeper since 2014. He joined the club from Atletico Madrid in 2011 and helped them win the Europa League in 2016. In addition, the Spaniard has won the League Cup in the same season. This season, he also earned a place in the Spain squad for the Euro 2020 qualifiers.
Lingard, on the other hand, has been with the club since he was seven. He has made 232 appearances and scored 35 goals for the Red Devils. He is set to become a free agent when his contract expires in June. However, there have been a few suitors for him, including West Ham.
On social media, David De Gea has expressed his respect and admiration for both players. He has described them as special guys. And while he is disappointed that Pogba is unable to return to the side, he is looking to get his own back.
De Gea and Lingard have been teammates since they were at Atletico Madrid. They have shared a long relationship at United, with the latter earning his PS89million deal from the club in 2011.
Although he hasn’t had a great deal of time with the team this season, De Gea has been one of the best keeper in the world. The 24-year-old has made plenty of great saves and has had a few memorable individual displays. That includes his goalkeeping performance against Arsenal, in which he made 14 saves.
Jesse Lingard was one of the most popular players on the bench at the club during his loan spell with West Ham last season. During his stint at the London club, he scored a brilliant strike against his former club.
The two players have shared a special bond. Both have been a part of the academy at United and played together in the FA Youth Cup in 2011. Lingard joined the youth teams at both club’s clubs and went on to be a key player in the post-Alex Ferguson era at Old Trafford.
Pogba hasn’t been as successful in his second stint at United as he was during his first. He missed four years on a free transfer in 2012, before returning for a PS89m fee in 2016. His performances were mixed. After a good season, he was loaned to Juventus for another four years before he returned to Old Trafford in 2016.
Paul Pogba has been a great friend to both players, but he is going to leave Manchester United this summer. Despite that, he remains a fan favorite at the club.
Mark Charlton’s tribute to today’s players
Mark Charlton’s career spanned seven decades and he is the last survivor of the Munich air disaster from his former club Manchester United. After a glittering professional football career, he retired from international play in 1970, and became the second-most capped England player. His achievements included winning two FA Cups with United in 1965 and 1963, and scoring two goals in the European Cup final.
Aside from his playing career, Charlton was also involved in the management of Ireland. During his time in charge of the country, he won the European Championship in 1988, and led the nation to a UEFA World Cup quarter-final against Italy in 1990.
Although he was not a star during his first spell at United, he was a pivotal part of the team’s success in the Sixties. He helped the club to win the Football League First Division title in 1957, and later the league title in 1967. The following year, he became a director at the club. This was followed by a short stint as caretaker manager, and then in 1983, he took up a role as a director at Wigan Athletic.
In his 106 international caps, Charlton scored 49 goals. He won the FWA Footballer of the Year award in 1968, as well as the Ballon d’Or. He was also a member of four England teams that reached the World Cup semi-finals.
Charlton scored his first England goal on his debut against Yugoslavia. He later scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 away win over Charlton Athletic in February.
Charlton was awarded the prestigious OBE in 1969. Later in his career, he was invited to join the board of directors at Manchester United. At the end of his career, he became England’s second-most capped player, after Jimmy Greaves.
While Charlton did not play in the first World Cup in 1958, he did participate in three more tournaments. He also played for England at the Euros in 1968, where the team finished third.
It was in this competition that he broke his own goal record. Then, a month later, he scored a goal in a warm-up tour for the 1970 World Cup. But, he was unable to score again after he was substituted in the second half.
When he returned to the UK, Charlton made his last appearance for England in a 4-0 defeat against West Germany in the quarter-final. Nevertheless, he was named captain in the event. However, after the game, he announced his retirement from international football.
Charlton’s contribution to Manchester United was legendary. The club won the Football League in 1964, 1965, and 1966, and won both the League and FA Cups in 1965. By the time he left, the team was no longer the top side in the country. Despite his departure, Charlton’s legacy continues to live on.
Man United’s poor run of form against Leicester could have upended a number of the Old Trafford faithful
Manchester United had a great start to the season, winning six of their opening seven league games. But it wasn’t quite enough to guarantee them a place in the top four. They were still in the relegation zone, and have only won two of their last 10 games. And they were on the wrong end of a 1-1 draw with Leicester City at Old Trafford.
The Old Trafford faithful were not short of a jolt. Earlier in the season, they had been treated to a UEFA Super Cup clash against Real Madrid. They had also beat Bruges home and away. However, they had not played a competitive game for nearly a month before this one. This was the first time they had been in the flesh for a home game since May.
One could say that the treble was a no-show, but that’s not entirely true. United did manage to win the Europa League, but that’s not a huge surprise. After all, the team is built for such things. As well as Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku, United also signed Victor Lindelof from Benfica.
While the team didn’t have a slew of impressive individual achievements, the fans have been rewarded with a fantastic season. Aside from the FA Cup, United have won the Second Division and the Champions League, as well as a League Championship. In the process, they’ve scored more goals than they have managed in all competitions since the start of the season.
Although the club has been plagued with injuries over the past few months, it hasn’t been all bad. The team was able to sign Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Matic from Everton, and they also secured the services of Jesse Lingard, who was loaned out to West Ham in the last year of his contract. These two players combined with the likes of Anthony Elanga, Chris Smalling, Luke Shaw, and Marcus Rashford have created a strong unit.
It’s easy to see why Louis van Gaal decided to cut his teeth at United. His side were far from the strongest in the Premier League, but he was able to glean some invaluable experience and his style of play impressed. Even though his reign was short-lived, he was still able to win the FA Cup for the 12th time. He also managed to win the European Cup, defeating Real Madrid in the final.
For this reason, it’s no surprise that Manchester United have sunk to eighth in the table. Having been a genuine contender for the title in the past, United have fallen behind Liverpool and Manchester City, both of whom have won the title in the past few years. With eight games to play, United need to get back on track.
After Man United’s 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest, Marcus Rashford paid respect to his former teammate Jesse Lingard. The two hugged at the final whistle before Rashford insisted Lingard is “more than just a friend.”
Lingard, who left United in the summer after his contract ended, made his way back to Old Trafford on Wednesday night. The player was upset with the organization for failing to bid him a befitting farewell despite spending 20 years there.
The offensive midfielder received a rousing welcome from the home crowd upon his return to his childhood team, which he joined at the age of nine. He also received cheers when he was replaced in the second half due to injury.
In a photo on Instagram that was shared, Rashford paid respect to Lingard by writing: “More than just a friend, Good to see you bro.”
Lingard commented, “Disappointing result to end the year.” Time to concentrate on the upcoming match.
“I just wanted to say thank you for the warm welcome, old Trafford will always have a special place in my heart, and the incredible support from Nottingham Forest fans once again thank you.”
From the age of seven until he was 29, Lingard was a member of Manchester United’s midfield, making 232 appearances and scoring 35 goals.
