Ten Hag forced to miss Sir Bobby Charlton’s funeral with Harry Maguire one of four Man Utd stars paying respects to icon

ERIK TEN HAG has missed Sir Bobby Charlton's funeral due to an "unbreakable and long-standing personal commitment in Holland". 

Manchester United icon Charlton last month passed away aged 86 following a battle with dementia.

Charlton's funeral cortege is passed Old Trafford before heading on to Manchester Cathedral for a memorial service.

Sir Bobby was commemorated alongside former teammates Denis Law and George Best in the "United Trinity" statue at around 1.30pm.

The cortege then passed through a guard of honour comprising members of the club's youth team squads and the statue before setting off for the cathedral via the A56, Trinity Way, Chapel Street and Victoria Bridge.

Despite Ten Hag being unable to attending, former captain Harry Maguire was among four current stars present.

Luke Shaw, Jonny Evans and Tom Heaton joined Maguire at the service while other United players are on international duty.

The United boss apologised and explained his absence was due to "an unbreakable and long-standing personal commitment in the Netherlands".

United legends Sir Alex Ferguson, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Roy Keane and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer were all also there.

But the unpopular Glazer family were not, fearing a backlash from supporters who are keen to see them end their ownership of the club.

United declined to comment when approached by SunSport.

The ceremony, which was not filmed or broadcast, included eulogies and tributes from former United chief executive David Gill and a personal tribute from Sir Bobby's family.

Thousands lined the streets as the funeral cortege arrived at Old Trafford.

The midfielder made 758 appearances and scored 249 goals for the Red Devils in a glittering 17-year playing career.

He survived the 1958 Munich Air Disaster, which claimed the lives of eight of his fellow Busby Babes, and went on to win the World Cup with England in 1966 alongside older brother Jack.

His glittering career also included winning the European Cup with United two years later.

Charlton returned to the club as a director in 1984 and continued to serve both it and football in general as a much-admired ambassador until his latter years.

His stature in the game was reflected in the tributes which poured in after the news of his death was announced.