Football lost an all-time great yesterday, in Chelsea legend and goalkeeper Peter Bonetti at the age of 78.
The Legend passed away due to a long term illness and which the club announced on Sunday afternoon along with a tribute video and a fitting nickname ‘The Cat.’
One of Chelsea Football Club’s greatest ever players.
Rest in peace, Peter ‘the Cat’ Bonetti. 💙 pic.twitter.com/OM48Dq2BXW
— Chelsea FC – #StayHomeSaveLives (@ChelseaFC) April 12, 2020
During those days, the goalkeeping life was short but Bonetti’s was not. The Englishman played 729 games for the club and went on to serve Chelsea for 20 years. Being an academy product he started for Chelsea at as early as 18. Not only that, he won the Youth Cup of 1960 standing between the sticks for the Blues.
The Cat was a kitten in 1960’s but had already started achieving a lot. The Blues won the League Cup in 1965 getting better of Leicester City like the youth cup they had won five years earlier.
Even fifty years ago in the same weekend as of yesterday, Bonetti was the hero in Chelsea’s FA Cup final win where they drew 2-2 at Wembley to Leeds United but later went on to win the replay fixture at Old Trafford 2-1. Even this was the first time Chelsea had won FA Cup.
And that was not only the first for Chelsea with Bonetti. The Blues also won the European Cup over Real Madrid the following year.
The Cat was an instrumental figure in all those wins. He simply stood out in his simple green jersey and commanded the goal as good as anyone has in the game of football.
Not only on the field, the beast was a public persona off the field too. From what I have heard, he was one of the good guys who came through in the eyes of public decently.
He is not just a Cat but a legend, a hero that will forever be engraved in the hearts of footballing fans.
‘He was not only a brilliant and great goalkeeper, he was a gentleman as well.’ 💙
— Chelsea FC – #StayHomeSaveLives (@ChelseaFC) April 13, 2020
