He was nicknamed “the Cat” for his extraordinary reflexes. Legendary Chelsea goalkeeper Peter Bonetti died at the age of 78 after a long illness. The London club, where the doorman with green gloves evolved from 1960 to 1975 then from 1976 to 1979 (interspersed with a stint in the United States, at the Stars of Saint Louis), announced on Sunday the death of “One of the greatest players in its history”, “A superstar goalkeeper from the 1960s and 1970s”.
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“Technically innovative and incredibly courageous”
Chelsea in tribute to Peter Bonetti
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As the Blues recall in their tribute, Bonetti was small for his position, since he measured only 1.77 m, but he was “Technically innovative and incredibly courageous”. One of the outstanding images of his career remains the replay of the Cup final in 1970, which he contested in part injured under the gaze of 28 million viewers, a record for the time in the United Kingdom. With the Blues, he also won the English League Cup in 1965 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1971.
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He had replaced Gordon Banks at the 1970 World Cup
International goalkeeper, he wore the England jersey seven times and was part of the crowned world champion selection in 1966 at home (without entering the game). At the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, he had to replace Gordon Banks for England’s goal in the quarter-final against the FRG, the incumbent doorman being ill. The English bowed (2-3 a.p.) after leading (2-0). Following this encounter, Bonetti never again played for the Three Lions.
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After leaving Chelsea, he became a postman on the Scottish island of Mull. He donned the gloves to play for Dundee United in 1979. He then coached Chelsea and the national team, before working with Kevin Keegan in Newcastle, Manchester City and Fulham.
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