'He taught us how to fight for everything in that red shirt': Class of 92 stars pay tribute to 'God-like figure' Nobby Stiles after Manchester United and England legend died aged 78
- England 1966 World Cup hero Nobby Stiles has died at the age of 78
- Members of Manchester United's Class of 92 have paid tribute to club legend
- Stiles worked as a youth team coach at United between 1989 and 1993
- He helped nurture the likes of Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Paul Scholes
- Gary and Phil Neville, plus Nicky Butt, paid their own tributes to 'God-like figure'
Members of Manchester United's Class of '92 have paid tribute to Nobby Stiles after the 1966 World Cup winner died at the age of 78.
Phil Neville, who was coached by Stiles when he was in United's academy teams, said he 'took care of me the way I would want my own son to be treated.'
Gary Neville shared a throwback photograph on Twitter and thanked Stiles for teaching 'us how to fight for everything in that red shirt.'
Gary Neville posted a throwback picture featuring Nobby Stiles checking on him as he received treatment during a Manchester United youth team match
Stiles (left) was a youth team coach at United between 1989 and 1993, helping nurture many of the famous Class of '92 players who went on to star in the first team
Stiles was in the Man United side which became the first English club to win the European Cup
Nicky Butt, who is now United's head of first team development, described him as a 'God-like figure'.
Tenacious defensive midfielder Stiles played for United between 1960 and 1971, making 395 appearances and helping the club to win two League Championships and the European Cup in 1968 under Sir Matt Busby.
But his crowning glory was helping England lift the World Cup at Wembley in 1966.
Between 1989 and 1993, Stiles worked for United as their youth team coach and was responsible for nurturing the famous Class of '92, which included Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Butt and the Neville brothers.
'That group of young players, that Class of '92, were taught how to be United players by Nobby,' Phil Neville wrote in The Times.
United's famous Class of 92 with coach Eric Harrison (left). From second left to right, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes and Terry Cooke
Nobby Stiles at the scene of his finest hour as England won the World Cup at Wembley in 1966
Stiles (second from left on back row) was the most relatable member of the England team that won their first and only World Cup after beating West Germany 4-2 back in 1966
'He taught us what it meant to play for United and how we were expected to conduct ourselves.
'He instilled values that stayed with all of us, I think, not just throughout our careers as players but in all aspects of our lives.'
Looking back, Neville added that 'you never would have known he was this giant of the game, a hero of English football's finest hour, because he never talked about it.'
Neville, who went on to play 386 times for the Old Trafford club, recalled an occasion during an under-15 game at The Cliff – United's old training ground – when Stiles rushed onto the pitch and kicked the ball away so an injured player could receive treatment after the referee had played on.
'He was such a caring man,' Neville added. 'I remember my first game away from home. It was in Anglesea and I was terrified.
Stiles won league titles with the Red Devils in 1965 and 1967, before their 1968 European success
'I'd never been away from home without my mum and dad before and it felt like a million miles away.
'He looked after me all day and gave me the man of the match award. He took care of me the way I would want my own son to be treated.'
Gary Neville posted a Twitter picture showing himself receiving treatment during a United youth team game as Stiles watches on.
He wrote: 'Rest in Peace Nobby. Thank you for all you did for us. You taught us how to fight for everything in that red shirt. 'Your studs ate your best friends out there.'
Butt spoke ahead of United's 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup at St George's Park.
He told BT Sport: 'He was a massive influence on all of us who came through at that club. He was my first coach at United when I was 12 or 13 and he was an icon of the club and country, a God-like figure when you look at him.
'He was amazing for us, probably the most humble man I've ever met. To be a World Cup winner and be like Bobby was.
'It is a sad day obviously but it is very heartfelt from all the people at the club and all the people around for world for what he did in the World Cup.'
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