Roger Hunt

Roger Hunt (20 July 1938 – 27 September 2021) was an English professional footballer who played as a forward. Regarded as one of Liverpool's greatest ever players, Hunt is the club's second-highest goalscorer with 285 goals, and its record league goalscorer with 244 goals. An England international, he won the FIFA World Cup in 1966.

Making his Liverpool debut in 1959, during Hunt's eleven years with the club he was top scorer for eight seasons in a row, and he was the club's record goalscorer until being overtaken by Ian Rush in 1992. He remains Liverpool's record league goalscorer having surpassed Gordon Hodgson in 1969. Under manager Bill Shankly, Hunt won two league titles and an FA Cup. In August 1964 he also scored the first ever goal seen on the BBC's Match of the Day. He was bestowed with an honorary knighthood by Liverpool fans who referred to him as Sir Roger. In 2006 he was ranked 13th on the 100 Players Who Shook the Kop, an official fan poll. In 2026 he was ranked the club's 9th greatest player in another official poll.

As a member of the England team that won the 1966 FIFA World Cup Hunt played in all of England's six games, scoring three times. He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

Club career Early career Born in Glazebury, Lancashire, Hunt played for Croft Youth Club, Stockton Heath and Devizes Town during his formative years.

Liverpool He was signed for Liverpool by manager Phil Taylor in July 1958, joining from Stockton Heath. Hunt made his debut and scored his first goal for the club on 9 September 1959 in a Second Division fixture at Anfield against Scunthorpe United; Hunt scored in the 64th minute to give the Reds a 2–0 victory. This goal was the first of many – he went on to score 286 goals for the club, 244 of them in the league, which remains a club record.

Portrait of Liverpool in 1963. Hunt is in the front row, second from left. After Bill Shankly replaced Taylor, Shankly and his fellow 'Boot Room' coaching staff embarked upon a clear out of 24 players. Hunt however was retained and was a major factor in the Reds' success in the 1960s. Liverpool gained promotion to the First Division in 1962,

In between the two titles, in 1965 he was instrumental in the side winning the FA Cup for the first time. Hunt scored four times in a cup run that saw West Bromwich Albion, Stockport County, Bolton Wanderers, Leicester City and Chelsea all defeated as Liverpool reached the final for the first time since 1950. In the final, after a goal-less 90 minutes, Hunt scored the opening goal in the 93rd minute and strike partner Ian St. John scored the second as the Reds recorded a 2–1 victory over Leeds United at Wembley. He also held the record of scoring 100 top-flight goals in fewer games (152) than any player in Liverpool history, until Mohamed Salah reached the milestone in one game less in September 2021.

Later career He signed for Bolton Wanderers in December 1969. He retired in 1972, and had a testimonial with Liverpool in April 1972, attended by 56,000 people. He was part of the England squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile, but was not selected to play.

England had been chosen to host the 1966 FIFA World Cup, and Hunt, along with Liverpool club mates Ian Callaghan and Gerry Byrne, were selected by manager Alf Ramsey for the 22-man squad. Hunt was one of three forwards selected for the tournament. He initially partnered Tottenham Hotspur striker Jimmy Greaves up front, but following a leg injury to Greaves he played alongside Geoff Hurst of West Ham United. He played in all six games, scoring three times, twice against France and once against Mexico, as England went on to win the Jules Rimet trophy after a 4–2 extra time win over West Germany in the World Cup Final at Wembley.

A section of the England fans (from the south of England) blamed Hunt (a northerner who played for a northern team) for replacing Greaves in the World Cup Final, and would boo him on his subsequent appearances for England (even though it was actually the Londoner Geoff Hurst who replaced Greaves). Following this, Hunt eventually told Alf Ramsey in 1969, following a game against Romania, that he no longer wished to play for England, and retired from international football.

Later and personal life After retiring as a player, he joined his brother Peter, in taking over Hunt Brothers, as the third generation of the family-run haulage business. It was originally established by Richard and Harry Hunt in 1929.

In 2000 he was awarded an MBE for his World Cup victory.

Hunt was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006, recognising his achievements in the English game. He was voted at number 13 by Liverpool fans on the official Liverpool Football Club in the 100 Players Who Shook The Kop poll, also in 2006. In 2016 he was made an Honorary Freeman of the Borough of Warrington.

Hunt was married in 1959 to Patricia O'Brien (whom he met when working at her brother-in-law's nightclub) and they had two children.

Hunt died on 27 September 2021 at the age of 83. His funeral was held on 14 October at Liverpool Cathedral.

Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

1959–60 Second Division

1960–61 Second Division

1961–62 Second Division

1962–63 First Division

1963–64 First Division

1964–65 First Division

1965–66 First Division

FIFA World Cup: 1966

Individual English Second Division top scorer: 1961–62 English First Division top scorer: 1965–66 English Football Hall of Fame: Inductee 2006 Liverpool Football Club Hall of Fame: Inductee