Bobby Charlton had a difficult relationship with two of the most impactful individuals on soccer in Ireland, George Best and his own brother Jack.
The siblings, both members of England's 1966 World Cup winning team, were estranged for decades until a very public coming together in 2008.
Bobby Charlton died on Saturday, aged 86. The former Manchester United star earned 106 caps for England, scoring 49 goals and won the European Cup during a 17-year career with his club.
He remained a key figure within the club for decades after his career ended in 1973, the same year brother Jack, later the Ireland manager, hung up his boots.
Behind the scenes, the relationship between the two was more than frosty, reportedly due initially to friction between their mother, Cissie, and Bobby's wife Norma.
On BBC's Desert Island Discs in 1996, Jack said: “I couldn’t understand why there was a rift between Bobby and my mother. Suddenly, he stopped going home. I don’t know why.” Asked by Sue Lawley whether the damage was irreparable, Jack replied: “I think so.”
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In his 2007 autobiography, Bobby wrote: “My wife is a very strong character and does not suffer fools gladly. I am not suggesting my mother was a fool. There was a clash and it just never went away really.
“Jack came out in the newspapers saying things about my wife that were absolutely disgraceful. Nonsense. Ask anybody that ever met my wife: ‘hoity-toity’ is not a word they’d use. My brother made a big mistake. I don’t understand why he did it. He could not possibly have known her and said what he said.”
Then, in 2008, Jack agreed to present Bobby with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. Jack said: "Bobby Charlton is the greatest player I've ever seen. And he's my brother." They embraced.
Towards the end of his career, Bobby was one of three of the great talents leading Manchester United's front line alongside Denis Law and George Best, all winners of the European Ballon d’Or.
In his book, 'Two Brothers', Jonathan Wilson recounts the fractious relationship between the then 30-something Bobby and the young Best.
"I just don’t understand him,” Bobby said in April 1973. “What do you come into football for? It’s your duty to give your best to the people who come to support you, but he didn’t seem to see this.”
Best accused Bobby of having “a holier than thou attitude”. "I wish I could hear him say ‘f***’, just once." Mr Wilson recounts.
The Belfast star refused to play in Bobby’s September 1972 testimonial, 0-0 against Celtic. He claimed to have an injury but later admitted it would have been "hypocritical”.
"He did turn up to watch but lasted only five minutes before leaving for the Brown Bull. There he sat gloomily at one of the heavy oak tables, drinking and throwing darts and two dozen eggs at a portrait of Bobby that hung on the wall," Wilson writes.
Former Northern Ireland international Sammy McIlroy told BBC Radio Ulster how his one time team mate's passing "is still sinking in for me...Bobby was a fantastic footballer and a lovely, lovely man”.
"I made my debut alongside him and was very proud and privileged to do so. He was what Manchester United were all about, a fantastic ambassador for the club.
"He had everything...both feet. He could hit it from 20 yards into the top corner and he did that many times for England and Man United.
"If any kids haven't seen Bobby Charlton play then go and have a look at him in his pomp. What a player and what a man. He will never be forgotten by supporters of England and Manchester United...one of the greatest of all time, no doubt about that."
