JAKARTA - Tribute to the late Sean Connery poured in from around the world. The actor passed away last Saturday at the age of 90.
The actor best known for his role as the first James Bond received many messages of condolences from the world of sports. This is a world outside of the film that Connery has an emotional bond with.
FIFA is one such organization that has posted tributes to Connery on social media, referring to the football career he could possibly have. The Scottish actor reportedly received an offer from Matt Busby to join Manchester United in the 1950s.
"I really wanted to accept it (Busby's offer) because I love football," Connery was quoted as saying in a FIFA tweet. "I decided to become an actor and it turned out to be one of my smarter moves."
Sir Matt Busby made moves to take a young part-time actor to Old Trafford and offered him a £ 25-a-week contract. "I really wanted to accept because I loved football. I decided to become an actor and it turned out to be one of my more intelligent moves. "RIP Sean Connery. pic.twitter.com/WhBTfoYOEH
- FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) October 31, 2020
Regarding his football loyalties, Connery was reportedly a Celtic fan as a child, although he went on to choose Rangers at a later date. During his time in Glasgow, Paul Gascoigne met the legendary actor at Ibrox, with their hilarious conversation captured on video.
"I shook his hand there and imagined that it had touched multiple breasts," Gascoigne sounded jokingly during the video.
Former Rangers player Lionel Charbonnier told RMC Sport to pay tribute to Connery.
"We see it quite often," he said. "He was very close to David Murray, our president. He was very charming. He was very self-effacing, very quiet, he almost apologized for being there."
Apart from his relationship with football, Connery is a big fan of tennis. He frequently attended the US Open at Flushing Meadows, playing the James Bond theme song in the arena when he attended.
At the 2012 tournament in New York, Connery arrived at the press conference of fellow Scottish tennis player Andy Murray along with fellow compatriot, Sir Alex Ferguson. In an extraordinary encounter between three of Scotland's iconic figures, they stand in front of the press room shaking hands and chatting. As we all know, the press conference was a little disturbed.
According to Sports Illustrated, Connery and Ferguson have watched Murray's match with his mother, Judy, over some wine.
So, looking back, it's no surprise that so many messages of heartfelt condolences were sent to Connery's family after he died. His reputation is very good in the acting world, but also upheld in the sports industry.
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