Liverpool legend and World Cup winner Roger Hunt passes away aged 83

Liverpool legend and former England international Roger Hunt has died at the age of 83, the club have announced.

The World Cup winner played 34 times for the Three Lions between 1962 and 1969, scoring 18 goals.

Hunt spent 11 years at Liverpool, scoring 285 goals in 492 games for the club, winning the league title twice and the FA Cup.

His 286 strikes was a record which stood for 23 years, only beaten by Ian Rush and he remains Liverpool's second highest scorer in their history.

Under Bill Shankly, Hunt formed a lethal partnership with Ian St.John, firing the Reds to the second division title in 1962, before a pair of top-flight championships in 1964 and 66 respectively.

Roger Hunt with the Jules Rimet trophy at Goodison Park, to commemorate the 35th anniversary of Englands World Cup victory, in 2001 ( Image:

Liverpool Echo/Colin Lane)

It was then in the summer of that year where Hunt achieved his greatest feat on the international stage, playing every game as England lifted the Jules Rimet trophy.

Hunt started the tournament alongside Jimmy Greaves, who also passed away earlier this month, before being joined by Sir Geoff Hurst following his injury.

He scored three times during the tournament, once in the 2-0 win over Mexico and a brace as the Three Lions beat France by the same scoreline.

Hunt's passing means there are now just three surviving members - Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Geoff Hurst and George Cohen - from the only England team to win a major tournament.

His 245 league goals for the Reds is a record which stands to this day. After leaving Anfield in 1972, Hunt joined Bolton Wanderers, scoring 24 times in three seasons.

Current Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: "It's really sad news and our thoughts and our love go to his family.

"Unfortunately, it feels too frequent in this moment we are saying farewell to these giants of our club.

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

"To be the goalscoring catalyst of the Shankly team to actually achieve promotion and then go on to 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 fit in well within our current team.

"So, it is Sir Roger we will remember, honour and pay tribute to over the coming days. You'll Never Walk Alone."

Roger Hunt and Ray Wilson parade the World Cup ahead of the Charity Shield between Liverpool and Everton in 1966 ( Image:

Mirrorpix)

Never officially knighted for his services to both Liverpool and England, the Kop bestowed their own upon him, referring to him only as 'Sir Roger', Hunt received an MBE in 2000.

The prolific striker also had the distinction of scoring the first goal ever shown on BBC's Match of the Day, a stunning volley during a 3-2 win over Arsenal in August, 1964.

In a statement on the club's official site, Liverpool said: "The thoughts of everybody at Liverpool FC are with Roger's family and friends at this sad and difficult time."

Jamie Carragher posted on social media: "RIP Sir Roger Hunt. One of the greatest goal scorers our club has ever seen. Sir Roger along with the other Legends from the 60's made LFC the club it is today."