England's Magnificent No 7

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Ball made his League debut for Blackpool at 17 in a 2-1 win at Liverpool. He made his England debut in 1965 against Yugoslavia, three days before his 20th birthday.

Scroll down to read more:

Ball: World Cup wizard

He broke the British transfer record twice, moving from Blackpool to Everton for £110,000, who sold him to Arsenal for £220,000.

The World Cup winner collected only one other medal in his career — the 1969-70 League title with Everton.

Ball made the last of his 72 England appearances, five of which came as captain, against Scotland in a 5-1 win at Wembley. He became only the second England player to be sent off, in a 1974 World Cup qualifier against Poland in Chorzow when he reacted against violent Polish tackling.

He was sold by Arsenal to Southampton in 1976, then tried his hand at management between playing spells. He became player-manager of Philadelphia Fury in 1979 then Vancouver Whitecaps the following year.

Ball returned to England to play for his first club, Blackpool, then Southampton again before playing in Hong Kong. He finished his playing career in May 1983 after a spell with Bristol Rovers.

Ball and fellow World Cup-winners George Cohen, Ray Wilson, Nobby Stiles and Roger Hunt had to wait 34 years before receiving an MBE in recognition for their services to football.

In May 2005 he auctioned his World Cup winner's medal and commemorative 1966 tournament cap for £150,000 to provide money in his will for his three children.

Ball's tragic death comes a year and a day after that of Brian Labone — his Everton captain in the title-winning side and England colleague in the 1970 World Cup.

THE HARD TIMES

Like most of the heroes of 1966, Alan Ball found management difficult. He became player-boss at Blackpool in 1980 but was sacked after a year.

He took over Portsmouth in 1984 and led them to the top flight in 1987. He was variously assistant or in charge at Colchester, Stoke, Exeter, Southampton, Manchester City and Pompey again.

Jack Charlton, who won promotions with Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday and led Ireland to two World Cup final stages, has been the most successful boss from the boys of '66.