Ex-England striker Hunt dies

Former Liverpool and England striker Roger Hunt has died at the age of 83, the Premier League club has announced.

Hunt was part of England's 1966 World Cup-winning side and is Liverpool's record league scorer with 244 goals.

A club statement said: "We are mourning the passing of legendary former player Roger Hunt.

"The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool Football Club are with Roger's family and friends at this sad and difficult time."

Hunt won 34 England caps and scored 18 international goals after making his first appearance in 1962 when Liverpool were still in the second tier of English football.

He played in every game of the 1966 World Cup and scored three times to help England out of their group.

"Roger Hunt comes second to no-one in his importance in the history of Liverpool FC, that much is clear," said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

Born in Golborne, Cheshire, on 20 July 1938, Hunt signed for Liverpool in 1958 and made his 492nd and final appearance for the club in 1969, by which time fans had christened him 'Sir Roger'.

Under legendary manager Bill Shankly he helped the club out of the Second Division in 1962 by scoring 41 goals in as many games.

Liverpool then won the First Division in 1964 and 1966 either side of a first FA Cup win in 1965.

Klopp added: "To be the goalscoring catalyst of the Shankly team to achieve promotion then win those precious league titles and the FA Cup puts him in a bracket of LFC legends who are responsible for making us the club we are today. Not only that, he was also a World Cup winner in 1966, too.

"I am told the Kop christened him 'Sir Roger' for all his achievements. A goalscorer who never stopped working to help his team-mates; I believe he would have fitted well within our current team.

"So, it is Sir Roger we will remember, honour and pay tribute to over the coming days."

Jimmy Greaves, who played alongside Hunt in the group games of the 1966 World Cup before picking up an injury, died aged 81 earlier this month.

Hunt's death comes six months after that of his long-time Liverpool strike partner Ian St John, aged 82.

A Liverpool statement said Hunt "passed away peacefully at home following a long illness", adding: "The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool Football Club are with Roger's family and friends at this sad and difficult time."

Source: BBC