Topic: Eusebio: RIP

[Simon]

Portugal football legend Eusebio, who was top scorer at the 1966 World Cup, has died at the age of 71.

Born in Mozambique in 1942 when it was still a Portuguese colony, Eusebio da Silva Ferreira went on to play 64 times for Portugal, scoring 41 goals.  The Benfica striker's nine goals at the 1966 World Cup in England included four against North Korea.  Widely considered one of the best players of all-time, he scored 733 times in 745 professional matches. 

He had been admitted to hospital several times over the past year for the treatment of heart and respiratory problems. 

Famed for his blistering acceleration and dazzling dribbling skills, Eusebio was named European Footballer of the Year in 1965.  He won the European Cup with Benfica in 1962 and was in the side that lost to Manchester United in the 1968 Wembley final. 

Eusebio enjoyed 10 league championship victories and five Portuguese cup triumphs in his 15 years at the club and was Portugal's top league scorer seven times.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25611509

[Clive]

Just goes to show it doesn't pay to be fit.  A good friend of mine died recently at 76 and he used to run marathons and carried the Olympic Flame for the 2012 Olympics.  In his youth he cycled for Wales and played in a first division football team.   

[Simon]

If it doesn't pay to be fit, I should live forever!   

[chorleydave]

Well, we have the Leeds to Liverpool Canal as the eastern boundary to the town.  Over the years there have been quite a few people dropped dead while jogging along the towpath.  I have yet to read in the Chorley Guardian of anyone being found dead next to the fag machine in a local pub.

Eusebio.  One of football's gentlemen.

[Simon]

Well said, Dave! 

[sam]

If it doesn't pay to be fit, I should live forever!   

Indeed!