The image of Bobby Moore riding his teammates' shoulders and hoisting the Jules Rimet Trophy after the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final at Wembley will live in infamy as the greatest moment in English football history. The Three Lions had defeated West Germany, 4-2, on home soil to claim their first — and still only — World Cup title. A hat trick from Geoff Hurst in the final certainly merited headlines, but the real hero was Moore, team captain and omniscient leader, who masterfully controlled the back line throughout the tournament and assisted on two of Hursts goals in the final. Franz Beckenbauer, the star of West Germany's side in the final, called Moore "the best defender in the history of the game", as did Pelé. With that introduction comes this 1964-66 era Bobby Moore match-worn red England jersey — the same traditional road model that he donned in that epic World Cup Final — from the prime of his career.

The intelligence and composure that Moore brought to the pitch allowed him to anticipate the next play well before his opponents and avoid senseless tackles that would often stall the flow of a match. From 1962 to '73 he was a fixure as central defender on England's XI, capped a record 108 times until countryman David Beckham surpassed him with his 109th appearance in 2009. On the club side, Moore played almost entirely for West Ham United (1958-74), save for a three-year stint with Fulham to close out his lengthy Premier League run.

The jersey is constructed of vibrant red cotton with long sleeves and a crew collar — identical to the iconic kit worn by the '66 World Cup champs. The front bears the embroidered Three Lions crest of the period. The back features Moore's famous number "6" in a white oversized block numeral. Properly tagged by manufacturer Umbro within the collar (no size given), the English apparel brand's logo is applied to the right tail. The shirt displays ample evidence of multiple match use with significant fabric pilling and a faded Umbro logo from repeated wash cycles. Few Moore gamers from the 1960's have ever come up for auction, and when they do they demand prices in the low-to-mid five figures. This one is certainly no exception. Includes letters of authenticity from MEARS.

The Football Scout Collection
Our consignor holds one of the most impressive vintage football jersey collections known to exist. Once a star amateur player, he later worked as a scout for multiple clubs and national teams, prospecting young football talent across the globe. Through his experience and unique connections, he procured almost every item directly from players or kitmen.