peter bonetti: the cat

The Chelsea stalwart died after a long illness at the age of 78. Nicknamed 'The Cat' for his lightning reflexes, Bonetti is a club legend at Stamford Bridge after playing 729 games for Chelsea - making him their second-highest appearance maker of all-time.He also played seven times for England and was part of the 1966 World Cup-winning squad as back-up to Gordon Banks.Legendary Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Bonetti, who made 729 appearances for the club and also played for England, has died at the age of 78 after a long battle with Alzheimer'sBonetti, nicknamed 'The Cat' during his long career, makes a flying save in Chelsea coloursBonetti waves to the crowd at Stamford Bridge during a visit for a Chelsea match in 2011Chelsea confirmed the sad news of Bonetti's passing on their Twitter account on SundayThe official England Twitter account also posted a tribute to the 1966 World Cup winnerIn a club career that spanned almost two decades at Chelsea across two spells, Bonetti helped the club win the League Cup in 1965, the FA Cup in 1970 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1971.He also helped Chelsea win promotion from the Second Division back into the top-flight in both 1963 and 1977.Bonetti played briefly in the United States with St Louis Stars before rounding off his career at Dundee United and Woking. RIP!! All at Chelsea wish to send our heartfelt and deepest condolences to Peter's family and friends. "All at Chelsea wish to send our heartfelt and deepest condolences to Peter’s family and friends. "Bonetti was a goalkeeping superstar of the 1960s and 1970s. Peter Bonetti, the keeper nicknamed 'the Cat' who played 729 games for Chelsea and was part of England's 1966 World Cup squad, dies aged 78 after long battle with Alzheimer's CHELSEA legend Peter Bonetti has sadly died aged 78 after a long battle with illness. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes.

The Chelsea stalwart died after a long illness at the age of 78. 'The club's tribute to him concluded: 'Peter Bonetti's position in the pantheon of Chelsea footballing gods is unassailable. Footy star Aluko cries in court after ignoring Covid quarantine on Barbados break Hudson-Odoi plays in Sunday league game 12 hours after Champions League match Man Utd MISS Sancho deadline as he jets out to Dortmund's Swiss base Arsenal transfer news LIVE - Latest updates from the Emirates Dortmund issue statement after Sancho is spotted in the UK amid Man Utd links©News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. My former goalie coach and top bloke at Fulham under Kevin Keegan. Bonetti was given the 'Cat' nickname by fans thanks to his nimble style, razor sharp reflexes and plucky nature.

All in front of an adoring Stamford Bridge. "Only Ron "Chopper" Harris has played more times for Chelsea than Putney-born Bonetti, who made his debut for the club in 1960 aged 18.After helping the Blues to win the FA Youth Cup that summer, he lifted the League Cup in 1964-65 after a two-legged victory over Leicester City and later the FA Cup in 1969-70, when Chelsea beat Leeds United in a famous replay at Old Trafford.Bonetti had been injured early on, but persevered to help Dave Sexton's side claim a hard-fought 2-1 victory after an initial 2-2 draw at Wembley.We're deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Peter Bonetti.In 1971, he was key once again as Chelsea lifted the European Cup Winners' Cup with another replay win over Real Madrid in Piraeus, Greece.Bonetti was also part of two teams that won promotion to the old First Division in 1962-63 and 1976-77, with his record of 208 clean sheets for Chelsea standing until 2014, when it was finally broken by Petr Cech. All in front of an adoring Stamford Bridge.' Relegation from the First Division in 1962 allowed Chelsea boss Tommy Doherty to rebuild as a talented young side containing the likes of Bobby Tambling, Terry Venables and John Hollins.Once they returned to the top-flight after just one season, Chelsea were able to challenge for silverware and won the 1965 League Cup with a 3-2 aggregate victory over Leicester City.The following season, the Blues reached the semi-finals of the Fairs Cup, the forerunner of the UEFA Cup, defeating Roma and AC Milan before losing to Barcelona in the semi-finals.Chelsea reached the final of the FA Cup in 1967, but lost to Tottenham, but atoned in 1970 when Bonetti made several important saves in the first match at Wembley.He suffered a knee injury early in the replay at Old Trafford, effectively playing the game on one leg, but made several crucial saves as Chelsea won 2-1 in extra time as an astonishing 28 million watched on television.Bonetti (centre) and team-mates Tommy Baldwin (left), John Hollins (second left), David Webb (second right) and Peter Osgood (right) celebrate Chelsea's 1970 FA Cup triumphThe legendary goalkeeper is paraded at Stamford Bridge during a 2014 match with PSGBonetti didn't receive a World Cup winners' medal in 1966 but this was rectified in 2009 when Prime Minister Gordon Brown presented him with it at Downing StreetA dejected Bonetti walks off the field after England were beaten by West Germany in 1970A years later and Chelsea triumphed in Europe, beating Real Madrid 2-1 in the replayed final of the Cup Winners' Cup in Athens.After a brief spell in North America in 1975, Bonetti returned to Chelsea and was first choice for another three seasons as they returned to the top division.His final tally of 729 appearances is second in Chelsea's all-time list to Ron Harris and included 208 clean sheets.Bonetti would have played more often for England if not for competitions from first Ron Springett, then Banks and later Peter Shilton.He didn't play at the 1966 World Cup though received a medal many years later but was drafted in for the 1970 quarter-final against West Germany in Mexico. Peter Phillip Bonetti (born 27 September 1941 in Putney, London) is a former football goalkeeper for Chelsea, the St. Louis Stars, Dundee United and England.