Chelsea Goalkeeping Great Peter Bonetti Dies At 78
Chelsea goalkeeping great Peter Bonetti has died at the age of 78 following a long battle with illness.
Nicknamed ‘The Cat’, Bonetti is second on Chelsea’s list of all-time appearance makers with 729, only behind Ron Harris, and his 208 clean sheets for the club is only bettered by Petr Cech.
He spent nearly two decades in two separate spells at the club, winning the FA Cup in 1970 and the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1971.
Bonetti, who earned seven caps for the Three Lions, was a non-playing member of England’s 1966 World Cup winning squad but did not receive a winners’ medal as the rules then stipulated that only the starting eleven players in the final qualified for one. Bonetti and other remaining members of the squad received medals at a special ceremony in 2009.
A Chelsea statement read: "Chelsea Football Club is hugely saddened to announce the passing today of one of our indisputably all-time great players, Peter Bonetti.
"Our former goalkeeper had been suffering from long-term illness. All at Chelsea wish to send our heartfelt and deepest condolences to Peter's family and friends.
"Peter Bonetti's position in the pantheon of Chelsea footballing gods is unassailable.
"He was the Cat who broke the mould, defied the odds, drew the gasps, earned the cheers and got the cream. All in front of an adoring Stamford Bridge."
