How old was Bobby Moore when he died? Remembering the former English footballer

How old was Bobby Moore when he died? Remembering the former English footballer

Helix Odhiambo
updated at February 4, 2024 at 11:16 AM
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Legendary West Ham defender Bobby Moore had an inspiring football career and a legacy cementing his place among the greatest defenders in history. His death sent a shudder through the sporting world as many reminisced about his glorious days and contribution to the sport. Is Bobby Moore dead? How old was Bobby Moore when he died, and what happened to him? Get all the facts here.

England's Bobby Moore holds the ball on the right during their World Cup game against West Germany. On the left is him celebrating after scoring a goal for West Ham.
England's Bobby Moore (R) during their 1970 World Cup quarter-final against W. Germany at Nou Camp. On the left, he is celebrating after scoring for West Ham. Photo: Staff, S&G (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Many remember Bobby for his talent, humility, and leadership skills. He was a complete defender with aerial dominance, clinical tackles, and excellent passing skills. Moore captained England to the 1966 FIFA World Cup title. We dig deep into Moore's biography, family, career, net worth and cause of his death.

Bobby Moore's profile summary

Full name

Robert Frederick Chelsea Moore

Nickname

Bobby Moore

Date of birth

12 February 1941

Birthplace

Putney, London, England

Date of death

24 February 1993

Place of death

Putney, London, United Kingdom

Age at death

51 years

Nationality

English

Height

1.78 m (5 feet 10 inches)

Weight

72 Kg (158.7 lbs)

Eye colour

Blue

Hair colour

Blonde

Profession

Former football player and coach

Position

Defender

Parents

Robert Edward and Doris Joyce Moore

Wife

Stephanie Parlane, Tina Dean (ex)

Children

Dean and Roberta

Net worth

$8 million

Bobby Moore's brief bio

England legend Robert Frederick Chelsea Moore was born on 12 February 1941 in Dagenham, Essex. He attended Westbury Primary School and Tom Hood School, Leytonstone, before Joining West Ham's academy. Bobby was reportedly the only child in their family.

A graphic representation of five facts about England legend Bobby Moore
West Ham's Bobby Moore looks on during a training session. PA Images
Source: Original

His father was Robert Edward, and his mother was Doris Joyce. The family stayed in Barking, where the legendary footballer grew up and developed a passion for the sport.

How old was Bobby Moore when he died?

Sir Bobby Moore's age at the time of his death was 51. The legendary footballer died on 24 February 1993 in his Putney Heath home in London. Bobby was the first England's 1996 World Cup-winning side member to die.

Bobby Moore's cause of death

Bobby Moore posing for a photo with actor Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine
Actor Sylvester Stallone (L) poses for a photo alongside England legend Bobby Moore (C) and Michael Caine during the premiere of the "Goals" film in September 1981 in London. Photo: Tom Wargacki
Source: Getty Images

How did Bobby Moore die? The former defender died of bowel/colon cancer. He beat testicular cancer in 1964 and had an emergency operation in April 1991 for suspected colon cancer before succumbing to the disease two years later.

Colon cancer (colorectal cancer) is a type of cancer that affects the colon (large intestine). It is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide that can cause severe harm and death.

Bobby Moore's funeral

Moore's funeral service occurred on 2 March 1993 at Putney Vale Crematorium, with his ashes buried in a plot next to his father and mother.

Who did Bobby Moore play for?

West Ham's Bobby Moore controls the ball Tottenham Hotspurs' Martin Chivers
West Ham's Bobby Moore (L) against Tottenham Hotspurs' Martin Chivers (r) during their Division One match at White Hart Lane on 23 September 1972 in London, England. Photo: Don Morley
Source: Getty Images

The former defender is known for his time at West Ham and on the England national team. He also played for Fulham before heading to America. Here is a breakdown of Bobby Moore's stats and career timeline.

Early career

Bobby began playing football in high school before joining an Essex youth team alongside fellow West Ham player Geoff Hurst. He enrolled at West Ham's academy in 1956, spent two years with their youth team, and then moved to the senior side.

West Ham United

The English legend launched his professional career with the Hummers in 1958. He debuted in a 3-2 win over Manchester United on 8 September 1958 and went on to play 544 Premier League games for West Ham, scoring 24 goals. He also played in 36 FA Cup games, 49 League Cup games and 13 in Europe.

Bobby captained the Hummers to an FA Cup title (1963-64), the 1964 FA Charity Shield, and the European Cup Winners' Cup title (1964-65). His final appearance for the club was against Hereford in the FA Cup on 5 January 1974 before signing for rivals Fulham.

Fulham

Bobby Moore, on the right, during his time at Coventry City. On the left is him playing for Fulham.
Bobby Moore (R) in action during his time at Coventry City. On the left is the defender playing for Fulham. He is one of the best footballers in history. Photo: Allsport UK, S&G (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

The former defender moved to Fulham in the second division in 1974 for around $31,700. He played over 100 games for the club and scored once. His last came on 14 May 1977 against Blackburn Rovers.

Other clubs

The West Ham legend also played for the San Antonio Thunder in 1976 (24 games, 1 goal) and for the Seattle Sounders in 1978 in the North American Soccer League. He later joined Danish side Herning Fremad, playing nine games for the club and helping them transition to professional football.

National team

England captain Bobby Moore lifts the 1996 World Cup trophy
England captain Bobby Moore lifts the World Cup trophy following their 4-2 win over West Germany in the final on 30 July 1996. Photo: Bettmann
Source: Getty Images

Bobby began his England career with the Under-23 team in 1960. He joined the senior side in 1962 and captained them in 90 games out of his 108 appearances until 1973. Moore led his nation to win the 1966 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first and only English skipper to lift the trophy.

Moore also led England to a third-place finish in the 1968 UEFA Euros. He bagged only two goals for his nation in friendlies against Norway and Poland. His international career lasted 11 years and 178 days.

When did Bobby Moore retire?

The English legend hung his boots in 1978 and had a brief managerial career at Eastern AA in Hong Kong, Oxford City and Southend United. He was also a newspaper columnist and featured in radio shows. Moore starred in the 1981 film Escape to Victory with Michael Caine.

Bobby bagged multiple individual awards, including featuring in the FIFA World Cup All-Time Team (1994) and English Football Hall of Fame (2002). He also won the 1964 FWA Footballer of the Year.

Frequently asked questions

Bobby Moore with England captain Gerry Francis Brazilian legend Pele
England captain Gerry Francis (C) poses for a picture with Bobby Moore (L) of Team America and Brazilian legend Pele (R). Photo: Peter Robinson
Source: Getty Images

The legendary defender has received worldwide praise from experts and legends like Brazilian Pele, who hailed him as the best defender he had ever encountered. Here are some frequently asked questions about the England legend with a statue outside Wembley Stadium.

How much is Bobby Moore's net worth?

Bobby earned an estimated net worth of $8 million from his football career. Other sources estimate his net worth to be between $1 million and $5 million before his death.

How old was Bobby Moore when he became England captain?

The football icon became the national team captain at 22 after earning the trust of England manager Alf Ramsey with his leadership skills.

"My captain, my leader, my right-hand man. He was the spirit and the heartbeat of the team." Ramsey said about the English legend. "Without him, England would never have won the World Cup."

Did Bobby Moore win the World Cup?

The former defender won one World Cup with his nation in 1966. Moore and Bobby Charlton led England to a 4-2 final victory over West Germany in extra time on 30 July.

How many times did Bobby Moore marry?

Bobby Moore takes a photo with his first wife, Tina, and two kids. On the left is his second wife, Stephanie.
Bobby Moore poses for a photo with his first wife Tina and two kids at their family home in 1981. On the left is his second wife Stephanie. Photo: TV Times, Andrew Parsons (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Bobby married twice in his life. He tied the knot with his first wife, Tina Dean, on 30 June 1960 after dating for four years. They divorced in 1986, and the legendary footballer married his second wife, Stephanie Parlane, in 1991.

Did Bobby Moore have kids?

The West Ham legend had two kids with his first wife, Tina. Their daughter Roberta was born in 1965, and their son Dean was born in 1968. Dean struggled with alcohol addiction and died of diabetes in 2011, aged 43.

Is there Bobby Moore's academy?

The former defender also took part in community programs and initiatives. He inspired the foundation of numerous programs like the Bobby Moore Academy, providing world-class education to pupils.

His wife, Stephanie, also founded the Bobby Moore Fund in 1993 and Cancer Research UK to raise money for research into bowel cancer and public awareness of the disease.

Final word

How old was Bobby Moore when he died? The legendary footballer passed away on 24 February 1993, aged 51, after succumbing to colon cancer. It is over 30 years since his demise, but his legacy lives on with the family, friends, and football fraternity.

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Authors
Helix Odhiambo photo
Helix Odhiambo
Helix Odhiambo is an award-winning Kenyan journalist and content creator with over 6 years of experience. In 2016, he won the Goal Blaze Correspondent Award for young writers.