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World Cup winner Ball dies
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26 January 2007
The youngest member of the side that lifted the Jules Rimet trophy in 1966, Ball passed away on Tuesday night of a suspected heart attack after battling to put out a bonfire in his garden, Hampshire police have confirmed.
The 61-year-old was found collapsed at his home and later confirmed dead.
Ball, who won 72 caps for his country in a 10-year England career and starred for both Everton and Arsenal, is the second member of the side that beat West Germany 4-2 at Wembley to pass away after captain Bobby Moore died of cancer in 1993.
A box-to-box midfielder, Ball was a key member of manager Sir Alf Ramsey's 'Wingless Wonders', and was awarded an MBE in 2000 for his services to football.
Ball began his career at Blackpool and went on to play for Everton, Arsenal and Southampton, before a spell playing in America. He was part of Everton's 1970 league championship-winning side.
He also managed seven clubs over a 19-year period, including two spells with Portsmouth as well as Southampton and Manchester City. However, his managerial career was significantly less successful than his time as a player.
Ball made his England debut in May 1965 in a 1-1 draw with Yugoslavia in Belgrade and also appeared in the 1970 World Cup finals in Mexico.
In 1973, he became only the second England player to be sent off in a full international when he was dismissed in a vital World Cup qualifier in Poland. Ball went on to briefly captain his country but his international career was ended abruptly in 1975 when Ball was only 30. He had scored eight international goals.
Meanwhile, the Football Association have confirmed England's players will wear black armbands as a mark of respect to Ball during their first game at the new Wembley against Brazil on June 1.
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