Sir Geoff Hurst, who scored a memorable hat-trick in the World Cup final, led the tributes to Ball, saying: "He was the youngest member of the team and man of the match in the 1966 World Cup final. Socially he was always a good laugh and the 1966 team mixed a lot after then."

He added: "We are all totally devastated."

Sir Bobby Charlton, who was also in the 1966 World Cup winning side, said: “He was probably the best player that day and if it had not been for his impact the result could have been totally different. He did not appear to have a nerve in his body, and he was an inspiration to us all."

Bobby's brother Jack Charlton revealed how Ball’s terrier-like style complimented his swashbuckling brother Sir Bobby perfectly in Sir Alf Ramsey’s team. “Alan was probably my best friend in football," he said. "I had to put up with him, he was always taking the micky out of me and having a laugh at me. But it was all in fun. He was a lovely little lad. I find it very difficult to talk about Alan because I keep smiling and I don’t want to smile.

"He was a worker, he never stopped running. He would always come and take the ball off you.”

Bob Wilson, the former Arsenal goalkeeper who played alongside Ball at Highbury in the 1970s, said: “Everyone can visualise him with his red hair and squeaky voice which is still there and will always be there.

“He was such an infectious character, an extraordinary character - his love for the game was amazing. He would argue all the time, love to talk about the game - just an amazing character.

“He was very combative. If anyone ever heard his after-dinner speech they would realise his passion and how big an influence his dad had been on his career. He would always stand on a chair to add to his 5ft 6ins to make him bigger and then talk about his passion, how it was instilled from his father.

“Right up to the 1966 finals, he would ring his dad and tell him he was in the squad, and his dad would say ’that ain’t good enough son - I need you in the team’.”

Lawrie McMenemy recounted the story of when he signed Ball for Southampton. “He came in and said ‘it’s like looking up at Blackpool Tower’, because he’s much smaller than me, and I walked past him and locked the door. I wouldn’t let him out until he signed. I wanted him so badly for his ability and his enthusiasm. That rubbed off on everybody.

“Once his feet touched the grass, he lit up. He was like a performer on the stage under the floodlights. In his early career he was a runner, a scrapper, a fighter, a workmanlike player. At the end of his career with me, he became the best one-touch footballer in the game. Alan started life as a road sweeper and ended up as the best lead violinist Southampton ever had.”

Howard Kendall hailed Ball as the key to Everton's success in the early 1970s. The former Everton manager formed a famous "Holy Trinity" in his playing days with Ball and Colin Harvey in the Toffees midfield, which took the club to their 1970 title win.

Kendall, who is regarded as Everton's most successful manager after three spells in charge, said: "We arrived at Everton in the same season. We hit it off immediately. He was such a bubbly character, it was really Alan who made the partnership with me and Colin work as well as it did. We went on to win the title together, and I recall one season he scored 20 goals from midfield, what would you pay for that sort of talent now?"

David Moyes, the current Everton manager, said: "He was a great person to be around and he always spoke very highly of everybody at Everton. He was very proud of the time he had at Everton and he regarded that time as being very special." Bill Kenwright, the Everton chairman, added: "Bally was my idol. If I was to draw up my favourite all-time Everton team he would be one of the first names on the list."

Steve McClaren, the England head coach, hailed Ball's impact on the international game and said his enthusiasm and attitude ensured he would be remembered fondly. "It is incredible to think he was only 21 when he won the World Cup," McClaren said. "He will also be warmly remembered as one of English football's great characters, who left a lasting imprint on the game he loved."

Kevin Keegan, a team-mate of Ball's at Southampton said he was "absolutely shocked" at the news of his death. "I played with him when he was 38 years of age. I had already been European Footballer of the Year twice but he could teach me things that I'd never even thought about. He made other players great. He was a giver on the football field. Bally could make them feel like they were better than they were. That's what he did in the World Cup in 66. He was an inspiration to a whole generation of people."

Southampton announced they would open a book of condolence for Ball, who had two spells with the club including the promotion-winning season of 1978, and later rejoined the club as manager, while Blackpool players will observe a minute's silence before Saturday's game with Scunthorpe and also wear black armbands as a mark of respect to Ball, who made 116 appearances for the club.

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