Former Chelsea, England goalkeeper Peter Bonetti dies aged 78

Peter Bonetti, one of the greatest players in Chelsea's history, has died aged 78 after a long-term illness.

The former goalkeeper's nickname, "The Cat," perfectly summed up his impressive reflexes. On the international scene, he earned seven England caps and was a member of the Three Lions squads that won the World Cup in 1966 and bowed out at the quarterfinal stage in 1970.

Bonetti was recommended to Chelsea in a letter written by his mother, and after a successful trial went on to make his debut when he was just 18. He fought off plenty of competition for his place across almost two decades with Chelsea, collecting silverware in the European Cup Winners' Cup, FA Cup, and League Cup. He remains the Blues' second-highest appearance holder with 729 outings.

"Bonetti was famous throughout football and innovative in the goalkeeping art," Chelsea's obituary reads. "It was he who despite standing under six foot tall, pioneered coming off his line, braving an often brutish melee, and catching of any high ball in his penalty area. It was he who broke the mould by rolling or throwing the ball out to a blue shirt rather than hoofing it upfield.

"He was first to recognise a role for gardening gloves in handling slippery winter balls, leading to his Peter Bonetti-branded specialist gloves which were a first and so successful they were sported not only by kids up and down the land, but by many of his contemporaries at the top level of the game too. Forward-thinking Peter later became the club's first goalkeeping coach."

Bonetti also worked as a coach for England at the 1990 World Cup before overseeing goalkeeping practice at other clubs.

"Peter Bonetti's position in the pantheon of Chelsea footballing gods is unassailable. He was the Cat who broke the mould, defied the odds, drew the gasps, earned the cheers and got the cream. All in front of an adoring Stamford Bridge."