Won award: Juventus FC Hall of Fame (2025).
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John Charles
William John Charles was a Welsh footballer who played at centre-forward and centre-back. Best known for his time at Leeds United and Juventus, he was rated by many as the greatest all-round footballer ever to come from Great Britain and one of the greatest footballers ever.
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sports · Welsh footballer (1931–2004) · association football player · association football coach · athlete · also John Charles, Charles
Born 27 December 1931 · Died 21 February 2004 · Q312404
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2025· 1 entry
2019· 1 entry
“pic.twitter.com/f7adbEMnoG — Arjun Pradeep (@IndianRegista) January 6, 2019 His memory also remains revered in Turin - he was warmly welcomed at a game at the old Stadio delle Alpi in 2001 and his 2004 passing was marked with a minute”
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2004· 3 entries
Died 2004-02-21.
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UEFA asked each of its then 52 member associations to nominate one player as the single most outstanding player of the period 1954–2003: Charles was chosen as the Golden Player of Wales by its national association in Nov
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Charles was voted at number 19 in the 100 Welsh Heroes poll
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2002· 3 entries
Won award: English Football Hall of Fame (2002).
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Charles became an inaugural inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame
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Was made a vice-president of the Football Association of Wales, and in 2003, he was granted the freedom of the city of Swansea
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1998· 2 entries
The Football League, as part of its centenary season celebrations, included Charles on its list of 100 League Legends
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Charles was included in the Football League 100 Legends and, in 2002, was one of the inaugural inductees to the Football Hall of Fame
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1997· 1 entry
Voted him the club's best-ever foreign player
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1988· 1 entry
Charles married Glenda Vero, whom he remained married to until his death in 2004
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1972· 1 entry
Played for Merthyr Tydfil F.C. (1972–1974) — 173 appearances, 80 goals.
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1966· 1 entry
Played for Hereford United F.C. (1966–1971) — 173 appearances, 80 goals.
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1965· 1 entry
Won: Welsh Cup with Cardiff City (1964–65).
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1964· 1 entry
Won: Welsh Cup with Cardiff City (1963–64).
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1963· 2 entries
Played for Cardiff City F.C. (1963–1966) — 69 appearances, 18 goals.
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Joined Cardiff in 1963.
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1962· 7 entries
Won award: nominated (1962).
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Runner-up: British Home Championship with Wales (1961–62).
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Charles returned to Leeds, but his time there proved unsuccessful as he was accustomed to the style of play in Italy, and by the end of the year, he had joined Roma
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Joined Roma in 1962.
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Played for AS Roma (1962–1963) — 10 appearances, 4 goals.
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Played for Leeds United F.C. (1962–1962) — 11 appearances, 3 goals.
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Joined Leeds in 1962.
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1961· 4 entries
Won the Italian Serie A with Juventus (1960-1961).
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Runner-up: British Home Championship with Wales (1960–61).
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Won award: nominated (1961).
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Won: Serie A with Juventus (1960–61).
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1960· 8 entries
Won the Italian Coppa Italia with Juventus (1959-1960).
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Won the Italian Serie A with Juventus (1959-1960).
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Won award: nominated (1960).
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Won award: Corriere dello Sport Serie A Team of The Year (1960).
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Won: Serie A with Juventus (1959–60).
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Won: Coppa Italia with Juventus (1959–60).
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Won award: Corriere dello Sport Serie A Player of The Year (1960).
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Won: British Home Championship with Wales (1959–60).
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1959· 4 entries
Won the Italian Coppa Italia with Juventus (1958-1959).
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Won award: Ballon d'Or (1959).
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Won: Coppa Italia with Juventus (1958–59).
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The highest position for a Welsh footballer
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1958· 7 entries
Won the Italian Serie A with Leeds (1957-1958).
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Won award: Corriere dello Sport Serie A Team of The Year (1958).
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Won award: Corriere dello Sport Serie A Player of The Year (1958).
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Won: Serie A with Juventus (1957–58).
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Won award: nominated (1958).
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Won award: Capocannoniere (1957–58).
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Won: FIFA World Cup quarter-finalist with Wales (1958).
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1957· 3 entries
Won award: English First Division top goalscorer (1956–57).
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Played for Juventus FC (1957–1962) — 155 appearances, 108 goals.
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Joined Juventus in 1957.
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1956· 1 entry
Runner-up: Second Division with Leeds United (1955–56).
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1955· 1 entry
Was appointed club captain and during the 1955–56 season, Leeds won promotion to the First Division
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1953· 1 entry
Married Margaret "Peggy" White; the couple had four sons together
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1952· 2 entries
Charles skippered his side to the Army Cup
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Charles began to be used more often as a forward and was the Second Division's top scorer in 1954
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1950· 2 entries
Joined Leeds in 1950.
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Played for Wales men's national association football team (1950–1965) — 38 appearances, 15 goals.
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1948· 1 entry
Played for Leeds United F.C. (1948–1957) — 297 appearances, 157 goals.
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1931· 1 entry
Born 1931-12-27.
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