Geoff Hurst
Scorer of the most celebrated hat-trick in English football history
| Full name: | Geoffrey Charles Hurst |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: | December 8, 1941 |
| Clubs played for: | West Ham, Stoke, West Brom, Seattle Sounders |
| Clubs managed: | Chelsea |
Club Career
Initially a midfielder, Geoff Hurst was converted into a centre-forward by West Ham boss Ron Greenwood. He made his debut for the Hammers in 1959 and would go on to become one of the most feared and prolific strikers in the English game, making 411 league appearances for the club over the next 13 years and helping West Ham to FA Cup triumph in 1964 and European Cup-Winners' Cup glory in 1965.
Hurst joined Stoke in 1972, followed by brief spells at West Bromwich Albion and in the United States with Seattle Sounders.
Club Stats
| Years | Clubs | App | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959-72 | West Ham | 411 | 180 |
| 1972-75 | Stoke | 108 | 30 |
| 1975-76 | West Brom | 10 | 2 |
| 1976 | Seattle Sounders | 24 | 9 |
International Career
Hurst will forever be remembered for his exploits in the 1966 World Cup. Having made his debut for England just five months before the start of the tournament he was seen as a decent back-up to the first-choice strike pair of Jimmy Greaves and Roger Hunt. He failed to make the starting line-up for the three group stage games before an injury to Greaves handed him his chance in the quarter-finals.
Hurst never looked back. He grabbed the winning goal against Argentina and was again instrumental in the semi-final defeat of Portugal. The final against West Germany saw Hurst carve his name into the record books, becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final as England were crowned champions for the first - and so far only - time.
After the World Cup, Hurst appeared in three more major tournaments before retiring from international football in 1972.
International Career Stats
| Years | Clubs | App | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966-72 | England | 49 | 24 |
Key Games
Preston 2-3 West Ham (FA Cup final, May 2, 1964)
Second Division Preston looked set to cause an upset as they led top-flight West Ham 2-1 midway through the second half. But Hurst's header levelled the scores and reinvigorated the Hammers, who would go on to secure a dramatic victory when Ronnie Boyce struck three minutes into injury time. The win gave Hurst his first major honour and West Ham their first FA Cup.
England 1-0 Argentina (World Cup quarter-final, July 23, 1966)
Having failed to make the starting line-up in the group stages, Hurst was given his chance in the quarter-finals due to an injury to Greaves. He grabbed the opportunity with both hands, expertly meeting Martin Peters' 77th minute cross to head home the only goal of a fiercely contested game. Hurst's impressive performance would ultimately see him get the nod to start the final ahead of Greaves.
England 4-2 West Germany (aet, (World Cup final, July 30, 1966)
Greaves was fit again for the final but Alf Ramsey ignored calls for his return, instead putting his faith in Hurst. He duly justified the manager's decision, scoring in the first half to equalise West Germany’s opener before a goal apiece from either side took the game into extra-time. Ten minutes in and Hurst scored his infamous second, a fierce strike that bounced down off the underside of the bar and, according to linesman Tofik Bakhramov, across the line before bouncing out again. Hurst went on to complete his hat-trick in the final seconds and make sure of a historic victory for England.
Honours
| Club | Competition | Year |
|---|---|---|
| West Ham | FA Cup | 1963-64 |
| European Cup-Winners' Cup | 1964-65 | |
| England | World Cup | 1966 |
Did You Know...?
Hurst played one first-class cricket match for Essex against Lancashire in 1962. He made 0 not out in the first innings and was bowled out for 0 again in the second innings.
Hurst received £250 for being England's top scorer at the 1966 World Cup finals.
He is currently Director of Football for McDonald's fast food chain.
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