England's World Cup-winning manager Sir Alf Ramsey has died aged 79 after a long illness. Sir Alf, manager of the English team from 1963 to 1974, guided England to football's biggest prize in 1966.

During the World Cup finals last year he suffered a stroke, and yesterday Ipswich Town, the club he used to manage, confirmed he had died in a nursing home earlier this week.

Players who played under him described Sir Alf as a quiet, determined and brilliant manager.

England's World Cup final hat-trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst said: "Alf was the only manager to take an England team to the highest point in their footballing history. No one else, before or since, achieved such a feat and for that he must be respected.

"I have a personal debt of gratitude to him because, had it not been for Alf, I would not have been given my own chance to create a bit of history. "This is sad news and he will be missed but his memory treasured."

George Cohen, a right-back in 1966, said: "I am shocked and saddened. It is terribly sad."

Alan Mullery, a midfielder in the 1970 World Cup campaign, said: "He was the best manager England have ever had. He was such a nice man and I don't think we will see another like him. When he said something he said it quietly but you listened - otherwise you didn't play in the next game."

Sir Alf also won 32 England caps as a full-back, playing alongside Sir Stanley Matthews, who said: "He will be missed - we played together for England and he was a man who followed the game really well."

Mullery added: "Once when England were playing Brazil in the great Maracana stadium, I was meant to be marking Pele.

"Alf saw me looking nervous and said to me `if you were not good enough to play against this fella you would be back home watching it on the telly'. It helped me, and I went out and played one of the best games I have ever played."

David Stacey, honorary secretary of the World Cup (1966) Association and England Football Supporters' Association spokesman, said: "I'm devastated. Sir Alf was such a nice man - very, very down to earth. When we had a little do after we won the World Cup with a few of the fans he found the time to come along.

"He was always very modest and a great manager. If there were still people like him in football it would be very nice. He was a legend."

John Barnwell, chief executive of the League Managers' Association, added: "Sir Alf made such a wonderful job of the England manager's role. He was an honorary member of our association and often attended our awards dinners.

"We knew his health was deteriorating very quickly. He was one of our senior members and was widely respected and liked within the business. He was a special character and it's a very sad day for managers and football fans everywhere."

Sir Bobby Charlton, on his way home from a Football Association visit to Botswana said: "I couldn't be more upset if it was family. Alf Ramsey gave all of us in the football business the greatest moment we have ever had as players, as coaches, as managers as fans and as officials.

"He was a winner and without Alf Ramsey England would not have won the World Cup in 1966. He gave us our proudest moment. I feel for his family as will every player in the 1966 squad."

Former Northern Ireland manager Terry Neill was an adversary and a friend of Sir Alf throughout his playing and his managerial career. He remembered him with fondness.

Neill said: "We really became very good friends. No-one was ever more helpful to me than Sir Alf. He was always there for advice. He was direct, which is exactly what I wanted from him as a manager. There was no preamble and no side issues. Some people found him abrasive but I loved him."