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English Football Legends Series

Matt Busby

Clubs Managed:
Manchester United

Honours:
League Championship, 5
FA Cup, 2
European Cup, 1

Arguably Manchester United's greatest ever manager, Matt Busby spent his playing career at their two biggest rivals, Liverpool and Manchester City.

After his playing career was interrupted by World War II, Busby was offered the assistant coach job at Liverpool but, as they were unwilling to give him control over team affairs, he declined.

Man United Manager

At the time, Manchester United had a management vacancy. Busby was offered the job, and after securing an undertaking that he could run the team his way, he accepted.

He took up the job on 1 October 1945 and, with former West Brom player Jimmy Murphy as his assistant, soon put his stamp on the side.

United were runners-up in the league in 1946/47 and again in 1948, 1949 and 1951. They won the FA Cup in 1948, and the league title in 1952.

But, by this stage, the side was beginning to show its age and needed freshening up. And it was here that Busby showed his true genius.

The Busby Babes

Rather than spending money on established players, he chose to gradually introduce talent from United's successful youth sides.

Among those who made the grade were Bill Foulkes, Mark Jones, Jackie Blanchflower, Albert Scanlon, David Pegg, Liam Whelan, and of course Duncan Edwards, rated by many to be the greatest English player of his era.

This youthful side acquired the nickname, 'The Busby Babes', and won the league in both 1956 and 1957, and well as being runners-up in the 1957 FA Cup.

Munich

In the 1957/58 season, United were looking forward to defending their league title and undertaking their first European campaign.

On 6 February 1958, the team were on their way back from a tie in Belgrade, having secured progress to the European Cup semi-finals.

The plane made a refuelling stop in Munich, Germany, but crashed on take-off, killing seven players and 14 other passengers.

Duncan Edwards was severely injured, and died two weeks later. John Berry and Jackie Blanchflower would never play again.

Busby himself suffered severe injuries and spent nine weeks in hospital. He reportedly considered quitting the game, but was persuaded by his wife to continue, in honour of the players who had died.

While Busby was recuperating, his assistant Jimmy Murphy, took a re-built United side to the FA Cup final where, despite the nation willing them on, they lost 2-0 to Bolton Wanderers.

Re-building

Matt Busby resumed his managerial duties the following season and set about building a new side.

Alongside Munich survivors Harry Gregg, Bobby Charlton and Bill Foulkes, he recruited David Herd, Albert Quixall and Denis Law. George Best was discovered by United scout Bob Bishop and signed for the club.

In 1963, Busby's new United won the FA Cup. They were league champions in 1965 and again in 1967.

European Champions and Knighthood

But the biggest success of Busby's career was to follow in 1968 when United beat Benfica 4-1, to lift the European Cup.

Following United's European triumph Busby was knighted for his services to sport.

Retirement

Busby retired as manager a year later but stayed on as a Manchester United director, a position he held for 11 years, before being made president in 1982.

He returned for a brief stint as caretaker-manager in 1970/71.

Death

Matt Busby died of cancer in January 1994. He was 84 years old.

He was an inaugural inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

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