View source for Nobby Stiles

{{Short description|English footballer (1942–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
|           name = Nobby Stiles<br><small>{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}}}}</small>
|          image = Nobby Stiles (1966).jpg
|        caption = Stiles in 1966
|       fullname = Norbert Peter Stiles
|     birth_date = {{birth date|1942|5|18|df=y}}
|    birth_place = [[Collyhurst]], Manchester, England
|     death_date = {{death date and age|2020|10|30|1942|5|8|df=y}}
|    death_place = Manchester, England
|         height = {{convert|168|cm|ftin|0|abbr=on|order=flip}}<ref name="DancingDestroyer">{{cite news |title=Nobby Stiles: The dancing destroyer who became England's forgotten hero |url=https://www.winsfordguardian.co.uk/sport/national/18835189.nobby-stiles-dancing-destroyer-became-englands-forgotten-hero/ |date=30 October 2020f |access-date=30 October 2020 |publisher=[[Press Association]] |via=Winsford Guardian}}</ref>
|       position = [[Defensive midfielder]]
|    youthyears1 = 1957–1960 |youthclubs1 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
|         years1 = 1960–1971 |clubs1 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] |caps1 = 311 |goals1 = 17
|         years2 = 1971–1973 |clubs2 = [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]         |caps2 = 57  |goals2 = 2
|         years3 = 1973–1975 |clubs3 = [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] |caps3 = 46  |goals3 = 1
|      totalcaps = 414 |totalgoals = 20
| nationalyears1 = 1965–1968 |nationalteam1 = [[Football League XI]]                     |nationalcaps1 = 3  |nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1965–1970 |nationalteam2 = [[England national football team|England]] |nationalcaps2 = 28 |nationalgoals2 = 1
|  manageryears1 = 1977–1981 |managerclubs1 = [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
|  manageryears2 = 1981–1984 |managerclubs2 = [[Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)|Vancouver Whitecaps]]
|  manageryears3 = 1985–1986 |managerclubs3 = [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]
| medaltemplates =
{{Medal|Sport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|ENG}}}}
{{Medal|Comp|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966 England]]|}}
}}

'''Norbert Peter Stiles''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (18 May 1942{{spnd}}30 October 2020)<ref name=BBC>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-11630764 |title=Manchester United buy Nobby Stiles's medals |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=27 October 2010 |access-date=27 October 2010}}</ref> was an English professional [[Association football|footballer]]. He played for [[England national football team|England]] for five years, winning 28 caps and scoring one goal. He played every minute of England's victorious [[1966 FIFA World Cup]] campaign. Stiles also played in the [[1966 FIFA World Cup Final|final]], which England won 4–2 against [[Germany national football team|West Germany]]. His post-match dance on the [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] pitch, holding the World Cup trophy in one hand and his false teeth in the other, was widely broadcast.

Stiles spent the majority of his club career at [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], spending eleven years at [[Old Trafford]], where he became renowned for his tough tackling and ball-winning qualities. [[Jonathan Wilson (writer)|Jonathan Wilson]], writing for ''[[The Guardian]]'' in 2013, labelled Stiles as a type of [[Midfielder#Defensive midfielder|holding midfielder]] he described as a "destroyer", a player who is primarily tasked with running, winning back possession, and distributing the ball to other players.<ref name="WilsonHolding13">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2013/dec/18/question-holding-midfielders-changing-role|title=The Question: what does the changing role of holding midfielders tell us? |work=[[The Guardian]] |last=Wilson |first=Jonathan |author-link=Jonathan Wilson (writer) |date=18 December 2013 |access-date=31 October 2014}}</ref> 

With the Red Devils, he won two [[Football League First Division|League titles]] and one [[European Cup]]. Stiles is one of only three Englishmen, alongside [[Bobby Charlton]] and [[Ian Callaghan]], to have won both the World Cup and European Cup.<ref name="guardianobit"/>

Stiles also had short spells with [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] and [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]].

==Early life==
Stiles grew up in [[Collyhurst]], a working-class district of [[North Manchester]], attending the local St Patrick's Catholic (Primary) School. He was born in the cellar of the family home during an air raid, the son of Charlie, a manager of an undertakers' parlour in a family business, and Kitty, who supplemented the family income working as a machinist.<ref name="Nobby Stiles: After The Ball">{{cite book |last=Lawton |first=James |title=Nobby Stiles: After The Ball |year=2003 |publisher=Coronet Books / [[Hodder & Stoughton]] |isbn=0-340-82888-9 |page=2 / 5 / 11}}</ref> He was of Irish descent.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://unherd.com/2021/07/how-england-and-ireland-made-the-three-lions/|title=The making of the Three Lions|first=Dan|last=Jackson|date=12 July 2021|website=UnHerd}}</ref>

==Club career==
===Manchester United===
Stiles supported [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and his talent was swiftly recognised when he played for [[England national football team|England Schoolboys]] at the age of 15.<ref name="DancingDestroyer"/> He achieved a childhood ambition when, in the same year, the club he supported gave him an apprenticeship in September 1959.<ref name="bbcobit">{{cite news |title=The 'toothless fella' who meant so much to fans |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36945085 |access-date=31 October 2020}}</ref>

Stiles was an unlikely-looking footballer in many ways – he was short, at a time when teenagers were being rejected by clubs purely because of their lack of height; he also had several teeth missing and wore dentures, the removal of which prior to matches gave him a gap-toothed expression which had the potential to scare.<ref name="bbcobit" /> He became significantly bald at a young age and sported a dramatic [[comb-over]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reporter |first1=Daily Express |title=England football hero Nobby Stiles has a stroke |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/181556/England-football-hero-Nobby-Stiles-has-a-stroke |website=Express.co.uk |access-date=31 October 2020 |language=en |date=18 June 2010}}</ref> He was also severely short-sighted, and needed strong contact lenses when playing, and wore thick spectacles off the field.<ref name="DancingDestroyer"/>

Nevertheless, Manchester United manager [[Matt Busby]] saw something in the tenacious youngster. Stiles was given his debut as a full back in October 1960 against [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]].<ref name="guardian">{{cite web |last1=Powell |first1=Jim |title=Nobby Stiles: his life and times – in pictures |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2020/oct/30/nobby-stiles-his-life-and-times-in-pictures |website=The Guardian |access-date=31 October 2020 |date=30 October 2020}}</ref> Stiles's simple passing game and fearless ball-winning skills saw his swift conversion into a "holding" midfield player of a type now a feature of all top teams but still a rarity at a time when forward lines consisted of five players and the midfield was restricted to covering half-backs.<ref name="enforcer" /> His ability to gain and retain possession also allowed his teammates, such as [[Bobby Charlton]] and, later, [[George Best]], to utilise more space on the field. Stiles's defensive skills were also utilised by United managers to great effect throughout his successful career.<ref name="guardian"/>

That said, Busby was not afraid to sacrifice Stiles when required and when United beat [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] 3–1 in the 1963 [[FA Cup]] final, Stiles was not picked for the game.<ref name="guardianobit">{{cite web |last1=Glanville |first1=Brian |title=Nobby Stiles obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/30/nobby-stiles-obituary |website=The Guardian |access-date=31 October 2020 |date=30 October 2020}}</ref> He began to make more frequent appearances in the seasons ahead, however, and won the [[Football League Championship|First Division]] title in 1965.<ref name="guardian"/>

In 1967, Stiles won his second League championship medal with Manchester United, but greater club honours were to come.<ref name="guardianobit"/> United reached the [[1967–68 European Cup|European Cup]] final, which was to be staged at Wembley, and Stiles's old nemesis Eusébio was again someone he had to deal with as part of a fearsome attacking potential posed by opponents [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles dies |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/nobby-stiles-death-england-world-cup-1966-final-age-cause-tributes-b1451803.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/nobby-stiles-death-england-world-cup-1966-final-age-cause-tributes-b1451803.html |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=The Independent |access-date=31 October 2020 |language=en |date=30 October 2020}}</ref> Stiles played well without keeping Eusébio wholly quiet, and with the score at 1–1 and just a few minutes left, the Portuguese legend got away from the United defence with just goalkeeper [[Alex Stepney]] to beat, yet only managed to slam the ball straight into Stepney's midriff. United won 4–1 and became the first English club to lift Europe's main trophy.<ref name="CoxRussell2020">{{cite book|author1=Richard Cox|author2=Dave Russell|author3=Wray Vamplew|title=Encyclopedia of British Football|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1WDwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT181|date=24 July 2020|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-1-00-014414-7|pages=181–}}</ref>

===Later career===
After 395 matches and 19 goals, Manchester United sold Stiles in 1971 to [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] for £20,000.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shaw |first1=Dominic |title=World Cup winner and former Boro midfielder Nobby Stiles dies |url=https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/nobby-stiles-middlesbrough-england-world-19195450 |website=TeessideLive |access-date=31 October 2020 |language=en |date=30 October 2020}}</ref> Two years later, he became a player-coach at [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] when Bobby Charlton was manager.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Macpherson |first1=Jon |title=Nobby Stiles, former Preston North End player and manager, dies aged 78 |url=https://www.lancs.live/sport/football/football-news/nobby-stiles-former-preston-north-19195407 |website=LancsLive |access-date=31 October 2020 |language=en |date=30 October 2020}}</ref>

==International career==
===1966 FIFA World Cup===
With England hosting the World Cup in 1966, manager [[Alf Ramsey]] had no competitive qualifying campaign to prepare, and therefore he spent the prior two years meticulously assessing players in friendly matches and [[British Home Championship]] games.<ref>{{cite web |title=England football team players: British Home Championship 1965 |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/england/tab/players/season/1965/comp/361/ |website=www.11v11.com |access-date=31 October 2020}}</ref> With Bobby Charlton the only certainty for his World Cup midfield, he needed to create a trio of players to complement the Manchester United attacker and among those was the requirement for a "spoiler".<ref name="enforcer">{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Paul |title=Nobby Stiles was an enforcer who pioneered the holding midfield role {{!}} Paul Wilson |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/30/nobby-stiles-was-an-enforcer-who-pioneered-the-holding-midfield-role |website=The Guardian |access-date=31 October 2020 |date=30 October 2020}}</ref> Stiles was tested out for this role in a 2–2 draw against [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] on 10 April 1965.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nobby Stiles Hall Of Fame profile |url=https://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/nobbystiles/#:~:text=Stiles'%20debut%20came%20against%20Scotland,friendlies%20and%20Home%20Championship%20games.&text=Having%20made%20his%20debut%20as,defensive%2C%20ball%2Dwinning%20midfielder. |website=www.nationalfootballmuseum.com |access-date=31 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=We're saddened to hear about the passing of 1966 World Cup winner Nobby Stiles |url=https://www.thefa.com/news/2020/oct/30/nobby-stiles-301020 |website=www.thefa.com |access-date=31 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref> He kept his place for eight of the next nine internationals, scoring the only goal in a Wembley win against [[Germany national football team|West Germany]] along the way,<ref>{{cite web |work=11v11.com |url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/england-v-west-germany-23-february-1966-229286/ |title=England v West Germany, 23 February 1966}}</ref> and by the time Ramsey confirmed his 22, it was thought likely that he would be in England's starting team for the World Cup.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000769/19660705/462/0038 |page=38 |edition=Last |newspaper=[[Coventry Evening Telegraph]] |title=Ramsey Makes Four Changes Against Poland |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |date=5 July 1966}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002191/19660604/116/0005 |page=5 |newspaper=[[Sports Argus]] |title=Winger's - Ramsey's Big Worry |first=Tom |last=Duckworth |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |date=4 June 1966}}</ref>

Stiles won his 15th [[cap (football)|cap]] as England kicked off the competition with a goalless draw against [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] and maintained his place as the uncompromising hardman playing ahead of the back four and making sure there was space and time for the likes of Charlton ahead of him.<ref name="sky">{{cite web |title=Nobby Stiles: England World Cup-winner dies aged 78 after long illness |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12016/12118983/nobby-stiles-england-world-cup-winner-dies-aged-78-after-long-illness |website=Sky Sports |access-date=31 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref> With Stiles not missing a minute, England progressed through the group with wins over [[Mexico national football team|Mexico]] and [[France national football team|France]] and then scraped past a violent [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] side in the last eight.<ref name="sky"/> In the France game, Stiles seriously injured their midfielder [[Jacques Simon (footballer)|Jacques Simon]] with a late tackle and there were calls from the media and FA for Stiles to be dropped. Ramsey publicly defended Stiles, being sure that the tackle was mistimed rather than malicious.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walters |first1=Mike |title=Remembering Nobby Stiles, England's 'Toothless Tiger' who deserved better |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/nobby-stiles-obituary-england-1966-22933984 |work=Daily Mirror |access-date=31 October 2020 |language=en |date=30 October 2020}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=tabloid|date=October 2023}}

In the semi-final, Stiles performed an effective man-marking job on the [[Portugal national football team|Portuguese]] playmaker, and prolific goalscorer Eusébio, to the extent that the immensely skilled player was essentially nullified for the whole match, which England won 2–1.<ref name="bbcobit" /> His tactics, despite the criticism they provoked from some, were effective; Eusébio's only major contribution was a late penalty, in a match where both sides were considered to have played attractive football in a good spirit with few fouls, and England progressed to the final.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nobby Stiles: Did football fail one of its most famous sons? |url=https://news.sky.com/story/nobby-stiles-did-football-fail-one-of-its-most-famous-sons-12119245 |website=Sky News |access-date=31 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In the dressing room afterwards, Ramsey praised Stiles's individual performance, a rare accolade.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2020/10/30/nobby-stiles-linchpin-englands-1966-world-cup-winning-team/ |work=[[Daily Telegraph]] |date=30 October 2020 |title=Nobby Stiles, linchpin of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team – obituary}}</ref>

Stiles, winning his 20th cap, had no man-marking brief against West Germany but played a strong, tough match as England saw a 2–1 lead levelled with the last kick of the game before [[Geoff Hurst]] completed a [[hat-trick]] to win the competition in extra time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Douglas |first1=Steve |title=Nobby Stiles, World Cup winner with England in 1966, dies |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/soccer/nobby-stiles-world-cup-winner-with-england-in-1966-dies/2020/10/30/d4d794b4-1ad0-11eb-8bda-814ca56e138b_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104172723/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/soccer/nobby-stiles-world-cup-winner-with-england-in-1966-dies/2020/10/30/d4d794b4-1ad0-11eb-8bda-814ca56e138b_story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2020 |newspaper=Washington Post |access-date=31 October 2020}}</ref> At the final whistle, Stiles did a spontaneous jig with the [[Jules Rimet Trophy]] in his hand while holding his false teeth in the other.<ref name="telegraph">{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Jim |title=Remembering Nobby Stiles: Tough and uncompromising but the nation's 1966 dancing hero was one of us |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2020/10/30/remembering-nobby-stiles-tough-uncompromising-nations-1966-dancing/ |website=The Telegraph |access-date=31 October 2020 |date=30 October 2020}}</ref> Thirty years later this moment would be referred to by [[Frank Skinner]] and [[David Baddiel]] in the lyrics to "[[Three Lions (song)|Three Lions]]", the England theme song written with [[the Lightning Seeds]] for [[UEFA Euro 96|Euro 96]]: in the 1996 version, a list of English football memories ends with "...Nobby dancing", and in the 1998 version, in a reference to the World Cup finals taking place in France, the middle section consists of the line: "We can dance Nobby's dance, we can dance it in France".<ref name="telegraph"/>

===UEFA Euro 1968 and 1970 FIFA World Cup===
Stiles played in the next four internationals, but was deemed to have performed poorly as England lost to [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland]] at Wembley in 1967 and was dropped by Ramsey.<ref name="guardianobit" /> Stiles was selected for the England squad which contested the [[UEFA Euro 1968|1968 European Championships]], but the holding role in midfield had been taken by [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]'s [[Alan Mullery]].<ref name="enforcer" /> England went out to [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] in the semi-finals, during which Mullery became the first ever England player to be sent off. Stiles was recalled for the otherwise meaningless third place play-off game against the [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19680608/099/0005 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]] |page=5 |newspaper=[[Aberdeen Evening Express]] |date=8 June 1968 |title=Wright, Stiles face Russia tonight |first=Ivor |last=Broadis}}</ref> but it was clear that despite his misdemeanour, Mullery was now Ramsey's first choice.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thesefootballtimes.co/2018/08/21/remembering-alan-mullery-the-first-player-to-be-sent-off-for-england/ |date=21 August 2018 |publisher=These Football Times |first=Gary |last=Thacker |title=REMEMBERING ALAN MULLERY, THE FIRST PLAYER TO BE SENT OFF FOR ENGLAND}}</ref>

Stiles played just once for England in 1969 and twice in 1970. He was selected by Ramsey for the [[1970 FIFA World Cup|1970 World Cup]] in Mexico, but only as Mullery's understudy, and not only did he not get a kick during the competition as England surrendered the title in the quarter-final, he never played for his country again.<ref name="enforcer" /> He ended with 28 caps – ultimately the least capped member of the 1966 XI – and one goal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/nobbystiles/|title=Nobby Stiles Hall Of Fame profile|website=www.nationalfootballmuseum.com}}</ref>

==Managerial and post-playing career==
In August 1975, Stiles was appointed as caretaker manager of Preston when Bobby Charlton resigned in protest at the transfer of defender [[John Bird (footballer, born 1948)|John Bird]] to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]], but he resigned a week later in support of his former Manchester United teammate.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oY9AAAAAIBAJ&pg=1987%2C5011635 |title=Preston want Catterick |newspaper=[[Glasgow Herald]] |page=22 |date=26 August 1975 |access-date=8 February 2011}}</ref> Stiles returned to Preston to serve as manager from 22 July 1977 to 5 June 1981 when he was sacked along with his assistant after the club were relegated.<ref>Manchester Evening News - Fri, 05 Jun 1981 ·Page 56</Ref>

Stiles joined the exodus of ageing and semi-retired European players to the [[North American Soccer League (1968–1984)|NASL]] in 1981, to become coach of the [[Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)|Vancouver Whitecaps]], spending three years at the Canadian club.<ref name="enforcer" />

On 29 September 1985, Stiles took over as manager of [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]; however, he was sacked the following February after the side managed only three wins under his leadership, and this was his final stab at management.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chapman |first1=Joseph |title=Ex-West Brom boss and England World Cup winner Nobby Stiles dies |url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-west-brom-boss-england-19195683 |website=BirminghamLive |access-date=31 October 2020 |language=en |date=30 October 2020}}</ref> He later revealed his struggle with depression while in the job, finding it tough to cope with working in the Midlands and the daily commute from Manchester where his family lived.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nobby Stiles MBE - Buckingham Covers |url=https://www.buckinghamcovers.com/celebrities/view/421-.php |website=www.buckinghamcovers.com |access-date=31 October 2020}}</ref>

Between 1989 and 1993 he worked for Manchester United as their youth team coach, developing the considerable skills of teenage prodigies such as [[David Beckham]], [[Ryan Giggs]], and [[Paul Scholes]]. [[Nicky Butt]] and the Neville brothers, [[Gary Neville|Gary]] and [[Phil Neville|Phil]], also came through at this time.<ref name="bbcobit" />

In 2000, Stiles was awarded an MBE after a campaign by sections of the media who highlighted that five of the 1966 team had never been officially decorated for their achievements. Stiles duly joined [[Alan Ball Jr.|Alan Ball]], [[Roger Hunt]], [[Ray Wilson (English footballer)|Ray Wilson]] and [[George Cohen]] in collecting his award.{{cn|date=October 2023}}

==Personal life==
Stiles married Kay Giles in June 1963.<ref>{{cite book |author=Johnny Giles |title=John Giles - A Football Man - My Autobiography |publisher=Hodder Paperbacks |isbn=978-1444720976 |date=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/nobby-stiles-get-it-give-it-how-mr-magoo-met-jules-rimet-85669.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/nobby-stiles-get-it-give-it-how-mr-magoo-met-jules-rimet-85669.html |archive-date=21 June 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Nobby Stiles: Get it, give it: how Mr Magoo met Jules Rimet |date=6 September 2003 |website=[[The Independent]] |access-date=16 May 2018}}</ref> His wife was a sister of [[Johnny Giles]] and they were introduced to each other around the time they were teammates at Manchester United. They lived in Manchester and had three children. Stiles' son [[John Stiles (footballer)|John]] was also a footballer, playing for [[Shamrock Rovers F.C.|Shamrock Rovers]] in Dublin and [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] in the 1980s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/nobby-stiles-fearless-ever-during-7534055 |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |first=Trevor |last=Baker |title=Nobby Stiles as fearless as ever during latest battle |date=30 July 2014}}</ref>

Stiles was a devout Catholic throughout his life, and even tried to attend mass on the day of the World Cup final. In 1968, Stiles released his first autobiography, ''Soccer My Battlefield''; his second, ''After the Ball'', followed in 2003. In 2007, he was inducted into the [[English Football Hall of Fame]].<ref name="sky"/>

Stiles's [[FIFA World Cup]] medal and a European Cup medal were bought by Manchester United for more than £200,000 at an auction on 27 October 2010. The World Cup medal, which Stiles won in the [[1966 FIFA World Cup Final|1966 final]] against West Germany, sold for £160,000.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manchester United buy Nobby Stiles' medals |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-11630764 |publisher=BBC News |date=27 October 2010 |access-date=27 October 2010}}</ref> His European Cup medal, which he won with Manchester United in 1968, was also sold, reaching more than £49,000. Stiles sold the medals so that his family could benefit from the proceeds.<ref name=BBC/>

A teenage Stiles, then a Manchester United apprentice, was portrayed by actor Kyle Ward in a 2011 [[BBC]] TV drama, ''[[United (TV drama)|United]]'', which was centred around the [[Munich air disaster]] in 1958, in which eight of United's senior players died.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1777034/fullcredits#cast "United"]. [[Internet Movie Database|IMDb]]. Retrieved 16 February 2013.</ref>

On 24 November 2013, it was announced that Stiles was diagnosed with [[prostate cancer]],<ref>{{cite news |first=Dan |last=Thompson |title=Manchester United legend Nobby Stiles diagnosed with prostate cancer |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-united-legend-nobby-stiles-6336469 |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |date=24 November 2013 |access-date=25 November 2013}}</ref> and in 2016, it was announced that he was suffering from advanced [[dementia]]. He was too ill to attend a celebration dinner to mark the 50th anniversary of England's 1966 World Cup win.<ref>{{cite web |title=World Cup winner Nobby Stiles dies aged 78 |url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/world-cup-winner-nobby-stiles-dies-aged-78_sto7972980/story.shtml |website=www.eurosport.com |access-date=31 October 2020}}</ref> In November 2017, a BBC documentary on the subject of brain injuries amongst retired footballers presented by former England striker [[Alan Shearer]] included an interview with Stiles' son.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2017/11/12/alan-shearer-dementia-football-review-impassioned-thoughtful1/ |title=Alan Shearer: Dementia, Football and Me review – an impassioned and thoughtful documentary |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=12 November 2017 |access-date=3 January 2018}}</ref>

Stiles died on 30 October 2020 at Manor Hay Care Centre in Manchester,<ref>{{Cite ODNB |last=Taylor |first=Matthew |date=11 April 2024 |title=Stiles, Norbert Peter [Nobby] (1942–2020), footballer |doi=10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.90000381706}}</ref> aged 78, suffering from prostate cancer, and dementia due to [[chronic traumatic encephalopathy]] (CTE) from the repeated heading of footballs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36963874|title=World Cup winner Stiles dies aged 78|work=BBC Sport }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=World Cup winner Nobby Stiles dies aged 78 |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2020-10-30/world-cup-winner-nobby-stiles-dies-aged-78 |work=ITV News |date=30 October 2020}}</ref><ref name=GuardDec20>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/dec/21/nobby-stiles-family-told-heading-did-give-world-cup-winner-brain-damage|title=Nobby Stiles' family told heading did give World Cup winner brain damage|date=21 December 2020|work=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=4 August 2022}}</ref> Stiles's brain was donated to the FIELD study conducted by Dr Willie Stewart into the link between dementia and a career in professional football. Stiles was one of five England players from the 1966 World Cup final who suffered from and in some cases died of dementia.<ref name=GuardDec20/>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref name="11v11">{{cite web|title=Stiles career stats|url=http://www.11v11.com/players/nobby-stiles-33070/team/football-league/#clubmatches|work=11v11.com|access-date=16 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="united">{{cite web|title=Stiles Man United stats|url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/playermenu/stiles.html|work=Stretford End.co.uk|access-date=16 February 2013}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[FA Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[Football League Cup|League Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[UEFA|Europe]]
!colspan="2"|Other{{efn|Includes appearances in the [[FA Community Shield|FA Charity Shield]] and [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]] ([[1968 Intercontinental Cup|1968]]).}}
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="12"|[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
|[[1960–61 Manchester United F.C. season|1960–61]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|26||2||3||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||31||2
|-
|[[1961–62 Manchester United F.C. season|1961–62]]
|First Division
|34||7||4||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||38||7
|-
|[[1962–63 Manchester United F.C. season|1962–63]]
|First Division
|31||2||4||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||35||2
|-
|[[1963–64 Manchester United F.C. season|1963–64]]
|First Division
|17||0||2||0||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||21||0
|-
|[[1964–65 Manchester United F.C. season|1964–65]]
|First Division
|41||0||7||0||0||0||11||0||colspan="2"|–||59||0
|-
|[[1965–66 Manchester United F.C. season|1965–66]]
|First Division
|39||2||7||0||0||0||8||1||1||0||55||3
|-
|[[1966–67 Manchester United F.C. season|1966–67]]
|First Division
|37||3||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||40||3
|-
|[[1967–68 Manchester United F.C. season|1967–68]]
|First Division
|20||0||0||0||0||0||7||0||1||0||28||0
|-
|[[1968–69 Manchester United F.C. season|1968–69]]
|First Division
|41||1||6||0||0||0||8||1||1||0||56||2
|-
|[[1969–70 Manchester United F.C. season|1969–70]]
|First Division
|8||0||3||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||13||0
|-
|[[1970–71 Manchester United F.C. season|1970–71]]
|First Division
|17||0||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||19||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!311!!17!!38!!0!!7!!0!!36!!2!!3!!0!!395!!19
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
|[[1971–72 Football League|1971–72]]
|[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]
|25||1||6||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||33||1
|-
|[[1972–73 Football League|1972–73]]
|Second Division
|32||1||1||0||3||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||36||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!57!!2!!7!!0!!5!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!69!!2
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
|[[1973–74 Football League|1973–74]]
|Second Division
|27||1||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||27||1
|-
|[[1974–75 Football League|1974–75]]
|[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]]
|19||0||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||19||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!46!!1!!!!!!!!!!0!!0!!0!!0!!46!!1
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!414!!20!!45!!0!!12!!0!!36!!2!!3!!0!!510!!22
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="nft">{{NFT player|19767|name=Stiles |accessdate=16 February 2013}}</ref><ref name="caps">[http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=20143 "Nobby Stiles"]. ''EU Football.info''. Retrieved 16 February 2013.</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[England national football team|England]]
|1965||8||0
|-
|1966||15||1
|-
|1967||1||0
|-
|1968||1||0
|-
|1969||1||0
|-
|1970||2||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!28!!1
|}

:''Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Stiles goal''.<ref>[http://eu-football.info/_match.php?id=13679 "England v West Germany"]. ''EU Football.info''. Retrieved 16 February 2013.</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Nobby Stiles
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| align="center"|1 || 23 February 1966 || [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], London || {{fb|FRG}} || align="center"|1–0 || align="center"|1–0 || [[Exhibition game|Friendly]]
|}

==Honours==
'''Manchester United'''
*[[Football League First Division]]: [[1964–65 Football League|1964–65]], [[1966–67 Football League|1966–67]]<ref name="DancingDestroyer"/><ref name="enforcer"/>
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1962–63 FA Cup|1962–63]]
*[[FA Community Shield|FA Charity Shield]]: [[1965 FA Charity Shield|1965]] (shared), [[1967 FA Charity Shield|1967]] (shared)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/Game/296 |website=LFCHistory.net |title=CHARITY SHIELD 1965: match details}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |archive-date=11 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811075158/https://www.thefa.com/News/competitions/fa-community-shield/2012/jul/shield-classics-310712.aspx |url=https://www.thefa.com/News/competitions/fa-community-shield/2012/jul/shield-classics-310712.aspx |title=Mind the bounce! |date=31 July 2012 |publisher=[[Football Association]]}}</ref>
*[[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]: [[1968 European Cup Final|1967–68]]<ref name="enforcer"/>

'''England'''
*[[FIFA World Cup]]: [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]<ref name="enforcer"/>

'''Individual'''
*[[Football League 100 Legends]]: 1998 (inducted)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/144986.stm |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=5 August 1998 |title=Sport: Football Legends list in full}}</ref>
*[[English Football Hall of Fame]]: 2007 (inducted)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/nobby-backing-england-1011217 |work=[[Manchester Evening News]] |date=16 November 2007 |first=Stuart |last=Brennan |title=Nobby backing England}}</ref>
*[[Professional Footballers' Association|PFA]] Team of the Century (1907–1976): 2007<ref>{{cite news|title=England Boys of '66 dominate your Team of the Century: 1907-1976 |url=http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa-legends/teams-of-the-century/team-of-the-century-1907-1976 |work=GiveMeFootball.com |publisher=Give Me Football |date=28 August 2007 |access-date=18 May 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022110958/http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa-legends/teams-of-the-century/team-of-the-century-1907-1976 |archive-date=22 October 2008}}</ref>
*[[FAI International Football Awards]] – International Personality: 1998<ref>{{cite news |title=Cunningham Player of the Year |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/cunningham-player-of-the-year-26171481.html |work=[[Irish Independent]] |date=12 October 1998 |access-date=22 January 2017}}</ref>

== References ==
=== Specific ===
{{reflist}}

=== General ===
* Keeling, Peter (1971). ''Nobby Stiles''. London: Wolfe, {{ISBN|0-7234-0456-9}}.
* McKinstry, Leo (2006). ''Sir Alf''. London: HarperSport. {{ISBN|978-0-00-719379-0}}.
* Stiles, Nobby (2003). ''After the Ball: My Autobiography''. London: [[Hodder & Stoughton]], {{ISBN|0-340-82887-0}}.
* Tyers, Alan (2007). [https://web.archive.org/web/20110527184239/http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,13297_2967539,00.html "The Sixties...Be Sure to Wear False Teeth in Your Hair"], [[Football365]]

==External links==
* {{FIFA player|44665}}
* [http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/S/NobbyStiles FA.com profile]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/manchester-united-fc/nobby-stiles-9308/1960-71_a12285/ Sporting Heroes profile]
*{{IMDb name|1391817}}

{{Navboxes
| title = England squads
| bg = white
| fg = #0B0B3F
| bordercolor = #0B0B3F
| list1 =
{{England squad 1966 FIFA World Cup}}
{{England squad UEFA Euro 1968}}
{{England squad 1970 FIFA World Cup}}
}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards
|bg = gold
|fg = navy
|list1 =
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
{{Football League 100 Legends}}
}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 =
{{Preston North End F.C. managers}}
{{West Bromwich Albion F.C. managers}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stiles, Nobby}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:English men's footballers]]
[[Category:England men's international footballers]]
[[Category:English football managers]]
[[Category:English people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players]]
[[Category:Preston North End F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Preston North End F.C. players]]
[[Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. managers]]
[[Category:1966 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1968 players]]
[[Category:1970 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:FIFA World Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:People from Collyhurst]]
[[Category:Footballers from Manchester]]
[[Category:English Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:English Football League representative players]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
[[Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Canada]]
[[Category:Expatriate soccer coaches in Canada]]
[[Category:English expatriate football managers]]
[[Category:Association football players with chronic traumatic encephalopathy]]
[[Category:Deaths from chronic traumatic encephalopathy]]