Gary Lineker has issued an apology and clarified his comments after making an error while paying tribute to English footballing icon Jack Charlton, who passed away at the age of 85 on Saturday.

The 1966 World Cup winner and former Republic of Ireland manager had been diagnosed with lymphoma in the last year and also suffered from dementia.

Tributes have been paid to the former Leeds United centre-back, who went on to manage Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and Newcastle United as well as the Republic of Ireland.

Premier League teams observed a minute’s silence before Saturday’s fixtures, while Match of the Day opened with a special package remembering the Three Lions legend.

However, Lineker made an error during the show’s introduction, saying that Charlton managed Sheffield United, rather than the Blades’ city neighbours.

“After playing, manager Jack, with Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Newcastle. And then the leap of faith. The manager of Ireland, who took the Republic to places they had never been,” Lineker said.

Lineker went on to apologise for the mistake and offer a clarification later in the show.

After the highlights from West Ham United’s 4-0 win over Norwich City, Lineker added: “We’ll come to the game shortly.

“But first, I’d like to apologise for our opening tribute to Jack Charlton, where I listed the clubs he managed as obviously Newcastle and I said Sheffield United instead of Sheffield Wednesday, which it obviously was.

“So, sincere apologies for that.”

At the helm of Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton won promotion from the Third Division in 1980 – but his managerial career is best remembered for his heroics as Republic of Ireland boss.

Charlton took charge of the Republic in 1986 and led the country to its first World Cup four years later.

He also led them to Euro 1988 and the World Cup in 1994 before retiring in 1996.

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