Charles, John

▪ 2005

“The Gentle Giant” 

      Welsh association football (soccer) player (b. Dec. 27, 1931, Cwmdu, Wales—d. Feb. 21, 2004, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Eng.), was hailed as the best footballer ever to come out of Wales, which he represented 38 times in international matches, including Wales's only World Cup appearance in 1958; he was also the first British footballer to achieve success in Italy. At age 16 Charles signed with Leeds United, for which he played both centre-half and centre-forward. In 1953–54 he scored 42 goals, and two years later he helped Leeds win promotion to the First Division, where he scored 38 goals in 40 games that season. In 1957 the Italian team Juventus paid Leeds a then-record £65,000 (about $181,500) transfer fee to acquire him. During his five years (1957–62) with Juventus, the team won three Serie A championships and two Italian Cups, while Charles scored 93 goals in 155 matches, was named Italy's Player of the Year his first season, and was twice a finalist for European Player of the Year. He returned briefly to Leeds United in 1962, played for Rome (1962–63) and Cardiff City (1963–66), and then managed Hereford United (1966–71). The massive 1.88-m (6-ft 2-in) Charles was dubbed Il buon gigante (“The Gentle Giant”) by his rabid Italian fans for his unusual agility and his mild temperament even when provoked—in his 18-year career he was never cautioned or sent off. Charles was made CBE in 2001.

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