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“CAT”: Peter Bonetti in action in April 1970. Photo: PA / PA Wire
The “cat” is dead. English football mourns the loss of Chelsea legend Peter Bonetti, who turned 78.
– It’s a shame to hear that Peter Bonetti is dead. He was a fantastic goalkeeper for Chelsea FC for so many years. I got to know him when he was the England goalkeeper and he was a wonderful guy. Rest in peace, “The Cat,” writes Gary Lineker on Twitter.
The death was confirmed by the London club on its website on Sunday. He claims that Bonetti died after a long illness.
Peter Bonetti played 729 complete games for Chelsea from 1960 to 1979, with the exception of one season in the United States. St. Louis begins in 1975. Only Ron Harris has multiple games in Chelsea’s history. Got 795 games.
However, on the national team, Peter Bonetti had just seven games for England, which at the time had Ron Springett, Gordon Banks, and then Peter Shilton.
IN GREEN: Peter Bonetti photographed as the Chelsea goalkeeper in 1973. Photo: PA / PA Wire
Brazilian Pele once said that the three best goalkeepers he has ever met are Gordon Banks, Lev Jasjin and Peter Bonetti.
Neville Southall is one of many goalkeepers who shares his grief over Bonetti’s death on Sunday:
– Rest in peace, my friend and archer trainer, writes Southall.
– A true gentleman and a fantastic goalkeeper, writes Mark Lawrenson, who met Bonetti in Newcastle.
Peter Bonetti was part of the gold team at the 1966 World Cup, but never made it to the field. Originally, he also didn’t receive a gold medal, but that made FIFA something in 2009 when the rest of the team got their gold during a Downing Street ceremony.
In the 1970 World Cup he played in the quarterfinals, which England lost to West Germany. In that fight, he replaced a poisoned food from Gordon Banks. England led 2-0, and Bonetti was blamed for the collapse of Sir Alf Ramsey’s men, and the Germans won 3-2.
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At Chelsea, Bonetti held the record for most goalless games until Petr Cech beat him in January 2014.
It also played an important role when Chelsea won their first FA Cup trophy in 1970 by beating Leeds, after relegation at Old Trafford. Bonetti suffered a knee injury early in the game, after a duel with Mick Jones, but he defied pain and was one of Chelsea’s heroes in a game that was governed by Dave Webb.
Bonetti later became a goalkeeping coach for both Chelsea and the national team, working with Kevin Keegan at Manchester City, Newcastle United and Fulham.
He also managed to work as a postman on the Isle of Mull, off the Scottish coast.
