Welsh forward, nicknamed the 'Gentle Giant', who starred for Leeds United and Juventus in the 1950s.
Born in Swansea in 1931, Charles joined Leeds United in 1947 as a junior and made his debut with the club in 1949 playing at centre-half. The following year he became the youngest player to win a cap for Wales.
Charles played as a centre-half until the 1952-3 season when he was moved to centre-forward. His goals helped secure promotion for Leeds to the First Division in 1956 and the following year was the top goal scorer with a total of 38 goals. He scored 150 league goals in eight years for Leeds, including 42 goals in the 1953-54 season.
In 1957 he joined the Italian giants Juventus for a then-British record £65,000 transfer fee. Over the next five years he scored 93 goals in 155 matches, winning three Italian League championships and two Italian Cups. The respect Charles earned from Juventus fans was shown when, on the occasion of the clubs' centenary in 1997, they voted him to be the best-ever foreign player to play for their team.
Thanks to www.soccerhistory.org.uk
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