🌎 Iconic World Cup Moments: When a dog named Pickles saved the tournament | OneFootball

In the build-up to this year’s World Cup, we will be bringing you an iconic moment from each of the previous tournaments. You can see all of the articles so far right here.

Today we remember a tale of when a family pet became a hero in the eyes of football fans from around the globe.

When the World Cup trophy was stolen

One of the most interesting, dramatic, and famous incidents from the 1966 World Cup didn’t actually take place at the tournament but occurred before a ball had been kicked.

There was a risk that the potential winners that year wouldn’t have anything to lift in celebration after, on March 20 1966, the World Cup trophy was stolen.

The globe-looking trophy that we see today wasn’t the first version of the prize given to the world champions, with the original piece of silverware — the Jules Rimet trophy — the most-coveted asset in world football up until 1974.

Four months ahead of the 1966 tournament in England, the Jules Rimet trophy was stolen while on display at Westminister Central Hall in London.

A ransom note demanding £15,000 appeared before a man by the name of Edward Betchley was arrested and convicted, receiving two years in prison for his part in the theft.

Thankfully the trophy was located and returned within seven days down to the heroics of an unlikely saviour … a dog named Pickles.

David Corbett was out walking his pet dog Pickles when suddenly the canine started sniffing at a package wrapped in newspaper underneath a car.

Speaking to FIFA.com, Corbett said: “Curiosity took hold. I tore a bit off the bottom and there was a plain disc. Then I tore around and there was Brazil, Germany, Uruguay.

“I ran back in and said to my wife: ‘I think I’ve found the World Cup!’”

The border collie became the hero of the hour, meaning Alf Ramsey’s England side had something to loft above their heads when they won the tournament later on in July.

“People remember the dog,” Corbett stated.

“They don’t remember me!”