Charles: Had a "fantastic" time

Charles said his biggest regret is missing out on the World Cup quarter-final match against Brazil in Sweden in 1958.

He was ruled out of the game after being injured against Hungary in the previous round.

Wales eventually lost the game to Brazil 1-0 with a goal from a young Pele - most commentators say the team would have won the game if John Charles had played.

Later Charles jokingly said "not only would we have won that game but we'd have won the World Cup as well".

Charles's 17-year career took him from Swansea to Leeds United and then to Italian club Juventus, where he is still adored as "Il Buon Gigante".

Charles said he is not disappointed by missing out on the big money in today's game.

"I had a fantastic time in the 50s and 60s and no amount of money could replace that," he said.

I always have loved and always will love the game

John Charles

Born in Swansea in 1931, Charles was still only 15 when he moved to Leeds United as an amateur and made his first-team debut two years later in 1949.

At this time he was playing as a centre-half and within a year he had become the youngest player to appear for Wales in March 1950 at the age of 18 years and 71 days.

Charles retired from League football in 1966, having played 38 times for Wales.

The 69-year-old Charles still goes to football matches every week - lives in Leeds and regularly takes in games at Elland Road.

"I always have loved and always will love the game", he said.

The book, "For Club and Country - Welsh Football Greats", is a celebration of the careers of players like Charles, Mike England, Terry Yorath, Mark Hughes and Ryan Giggs.