London (AFP)
Chelsea monument Peter Bletti, former Blues and England team goalkeeper, died at 78 after a long illness, the Premier League club announced on Sunday.
"All of us at Chelsea Football Club are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our brilliant former goalkeeper Peter Bonetti, who has played 729 games with the Blues," the club said on Twitter.
Nicknamed "the Cat" for his agility, he was a pillar of the London team for fifteen seasons in the 1960s and 1970s, winning a League Cup (1965), an FA Cup (1970 ) and a European Cup Winners' Cup (1971).
Member of the English selection crowned world champion in 1966 at home, without however disputing a single meeting, Bonetti only wore the Three Lions jersey seven times where he was successively struck off by two monsters, Gordon Banks then Peter Shilton.
Of his international career, was mainly selected the elimination in the quarter-finals of the 1970 World Cup by West Germany which has long been attributed to him.
Holder due to food poisoning from Gordon Banks, Bonetti is at fault on the first two goals conceded by England. And the reigning world champions who led 2-0 were finally beaten 3-2.
Star goalkeeper Bonetti, who already owned a model of gloves with his name, will never again play with the selection, but will return to it as coach of the goalkeepers, after having also occupied this position at Chelsea.
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