LONDON (AP) - Nat Lofthouse, one of England's most powerful and prolific strikers, died on Saturday. He was 85.
The former miner, who amassed 30 goals in just 33 appearances for England, died in his sleep at a nursing home in Bolton, northwest England, the club announced on its website.
Lofthouse was memorably nicknamed "The Lion of Vienna" after being knocked unconscious in a 1952 international against Austria when he scored twice to clinch a 3-2 victory in the unofficial championship of Europe.
The forward spent his entire career with boyhood club Bolton, scoring a record 255 times in 452 appearances between 1946 and 1960 after his first-team debut was delayed by World War II.
"Nat undoubtedly is a Bolton Wanderers legend," chairman Phil Gartside said on the club website. "He was a one-club man and our football club meant as much to him as he did to us.
"We will miss him but we will celebrate his life, his legacy and great times that he brought to Bolton Wanderers."
Lofthouse's association with Bolton continued after his playing career ended, occupying a variety of roles including chief coach, chief scout, caretaker manager and club president, in which he remained until his death.
Former England and Bolton defender Jimmy Armfield described Lofthouse in a 1995 BBC radio documentary as "the epitomy of the old-fashioned center forward - strong, fast, fearless."
The players' union website says that Lofthouse "set the standard to which all strikers are compared."
Two of his goals helped Bolton win the 1958 FA Cup final with a victory over Manchester United - and the second remains contentious to this day.
Playing against a United side still grieving following the Munich air disaster, Lofthouse barged goalkeeper Harry Gregg into the net to score.

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