Member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad George Eastham passed away at the age of 88, his former club Stoke City confirmed on Friday.
Eastham, the son of England international George Senior, was a talented midfielder and inside forward.
Throughout his professional career, which spanned two decades, he played for Newcastle United, Arsenal, and Stoke City in the English top-flight.
He earned 19 international caps and was renowned for his lethal left foot and creativity.
A legend at Stoke City, Eastham is fondly remembered for scoring the winning goal in the 1972 League Cup final, securing the club's first major trophy with a 2-1 victory over Chelsea.
Over the course of eight seasons at the club, he made 194 league appearances. In addition to his playing career, Eastham also managed Stoke City during the 1977-78 season.
Born in Blackpool, Eastham is also remembered for his pivotal role in challenging the old 'retain and transfer' system, which allowed clubs to control a player's registration and force them to stay.
When his contract with Newcastle expired in 1959, Eastham went on strike for eight months, demanding a move to Arsenal.
His actions eventually led him to take legal action, and the High Court ruled that the system was unreasonable.
This landmark case paved the way for major reforms in the British transfer market and the creation of a tribunal to handle disputes.
In recognition of his contributions to football, Eastham was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1973.
As a mark of respect, Stoke City's players will wear black armbands during their Championship match against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday.
The club also paid tribute to Eastham, saying, "The Stoke City Football Club family is immensely saddened by the passing of club legend George Eastham... our thoughts are with George’s family and friends at this difficult time."
A further tribute will be held during Stoke City's home game against Leeds United on Boxing Day.
