Sir Geoff Hurst

Born 8 December 1941 in Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst MBE (Geoff Hurst) is a retired England footballer best remembered for his years with West Ham. 

Geoff Hurst made his mark in World Cup history as the only player to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final. His three goals came in the 1966 final for England in their 4–2 win over West Germany at the old Wembley. Such an achievement was made all the more remarkable by the fact that he was only five months and eight games into his international career, and was not considered his country's premier center forward.

Geoff Hurst was initially a strong-running midfielder but was converted to a striker by manager Ron Greenwood. West Ham won the FA Cup in 1964 with Hurst scoring the second equalizer in a tight and exciting 3–2 victory over Preston North End at Wembley. A year later, Hurst was back at Wembley for the final of the European Cup Winners Cup against 1860 Munich, and West Ham won 2–0. The following season he was in the West Ham side which lost the League Cup final on aggregate to West Bromwich Albion.

In February 1966 he was given his debut for England by manager Alf Ramsey. Geoff Hurst was named in the 22-man World Cup squad for the finals in England. Ramsey’s decision paid dividends as Hurst scored three goals to help England wins their World Cup title.

 

Geoff Hurst remains the most recent British-based player to notch a double hat-trick in a top-flight league match: he achieved this remarkable feat in a First Division match against Sunderland at Upton Park on 19 October 1968, which saw the Hammers defeat the Wearsiders 8-0.

Geoff Hurst wound down his career with Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, Seattle Sounders (NASL). After Seattle, Hurst played in Kuwait and then signed for Cork Celtic. 

Upon his retirement from playing, Geoff Hurst moved into management and coaching. He was assistant to his ex-West Ham boss Ron Greenwood after the latter took over the England job in 1977, player-manager of Telford United and manager of Chelsea from 1979–81. He joined Chelsea, then in the Second Division, before the 1979–80 season, initially as assistant manager to Danny Blanchflower. When Blanchflower was sacked, Geoff Hurst was appointed manager. [source : Geoff Hurst]

Sir Geoff Hurst Pictures