Fulham legend George Cohen, who won the World Cup with England in 1966 and was described by George Best as "the best full back I ever played against", is being given the freedom of Hammersmith and Fulham.

He is being made an honorary freeman - the highest civic distinction the borough can grant - at a special meeting of Hammersmith and Fulham Council on October 19, three days before the footballer’s 77th birthday.

It follows the unveiling, ahead of last weekend’s west London derby against QPR , of a bronze statue at Craven Cottage, where the right back spent his entire career.

The honour reflects his achievement on the football pitch - the one-club man made 459 appearances for the Whites between 1956 and 1969 - and his charity work off it, which has seen him campaign for research into cancer and dementia.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council leader Stephen Cowan said: “This is a richly deserved honour for a sporting hero who is Fulham through and through.

Legend: Statue of George Cohen MBE

“It not only marks his achievements on the football field, but also his ambassadorial role and his tireless campaigning for research into cancer and dementia, especially to help his fellow players.”

His statue is placed in the same spot as the Michael Jackson statue put up by former chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed, and removed by current owner Shahid Khan.

Cohen was at Craven Cottage on Saturday (October 1) with his wife of 54 years Daphne, sons Tony and Andrew and grandchildren, for the unveiling of his statue, where he quipped: “Are you sure that’s not George Clooney?”

It means that both Cohen and his former Fulham captain Johnny Haynes are now commemorated in bronze at either end of the famous riverside ground.

Honour: England captain Bobby Moore kissing the Jules Rimet trophy with George Cohen, far left

The citation to be read out on October 19 at the town hall in King Street, Hammersmith will acknowledge Cohen’s lifetime achievements, and his exceptional service to charity in an ambassadorial role for Fulham FC and the wider football community.

The freedom of the borough is an honour given sparingly to a select few whose civic service has been deemed truly exceptional.

Among those at the statue’s unveiling was former Fulham and England manager Roy Hodgson . He said: “He’s a legend in Fulham and England terms; I got to know him when I came to Fulham, and he conducts himself so well.

“He’s a great ambassador, and I’m so pleased to see that he’s got a statue; it’s richly deserved.”