Sir Bobby voted United's greatest Englishman

Manchester United supporters have voted Sir Bobby Charlton as the club's greatest-ever English player.

The World Cup winner amassed an impressive 35 per cent of the vote to beat Wayne Rooney into second place, with Paul Scholes third.

David Beckham, Duncan Edwards, Bryan Robson, Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville also featured on our shortlist to mark St George's Day.

Sir Bobby's career was simply extraordinary. After breaking into the Busby Babes' team as a youngster, he survived the Munich Air Disaster and went on to score twice in the final when United won the European Cup for the first time in 1968.

An attacking midfielder with a ferocious shot, he scored 249 times in 758 appearances for the club. Both figures were long-standing records until surpassed by Rooney and Ryan Giggs respectively.

Rooney also overtook the 1966 Ballon d'Or winner's England record tally of 49 goals, which came from 106 caps.

The outcome of the poll shows the great esteem in which the 82-year-old is rightly still held. Indeed, his popularity has always stretched across the globe.

Fans on Facebook offered their praise for the United icon, with Craig Bramwell posting: “Charlton, hands down. Becks was my all-time favourite player but Charlton was the greatest.”

Gordon Adams agreed, saying: “[Been a] United fan since 1957 so, had Munich not have happened, Duncan Edwards would have my vote. However, it did happen and so it is Sir Bobby, hands down, for all that he has achieved, on and off the pitch, and for the world's greatest club.”

Taiwo Wizzy Ayodeji made a persuasive argument, explaining: “Bobby Charlton won the Ballon d'Or, World Cup and European Cup. These feats alone made him stand out compared to other English players at United. To me, Sir Bobby is the greatest English player.”

During our MUTV Group Chat, the former Reds also backed the decision to hand Sir Bobby the title of our best English footballer.

“It's a tough one but I'm going with Bobby Charlton,” said Wes Brown. “For what he's done in the past and obviously watching stuff when I was growing up on video. What he did - not just for club but for country as well - means I'll go with Bobby. We've all met him and he's an absolute top man.”

Fellow defender David May said: “What he came through - Munich, then winning the European Cup, winning the World Cup, being a club ambassador. In these times, I think he is the perfect gentleman to get that accolade.”

Danny Webber agreed, commenting: “For personal reasons as well. When I was a kid coming through, the boss introduced me to him and Sir Matt Busby and I remember being in awe of him and thinking 'wow'. For me, Sir Bobby is an absolute legend.”

The only man to choose another option was Ben Thornley, who explained: “I admired Bryan Robson greatly as a kid. The best player I ever played with was Paul Scholes but, in an era where United really, really needed somebody, Robson was a one-man team.”

POLL RESULT

Sir Bobby Charlton - 35%
Wayne Rooney - 26%
Paul Scholes - 14%
David Beckham - 12%
Duncan Edwards - 6%
Bryan Robson - 5%
Rio Ferdinand - 1%
Gary Neville - 1%
Thank you to everybody who voted!