The 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster has passed. Two articles from ESPNsoccernet help illuminate the reason why Manchester United is so popular now and how the disaster added to, if not created, the romance of Manchester United.
1. The Busby Babes: Munich remembered
The Busby Babes were on the brink of greatness, the future was theirs. There seemed to be no limit on what they could achieve.
That they had managed to accomplish so much is remarkable in itself, but it was the manner in which it was achieved that endeared so many to that Manchester United team. It was a side that not only played with style and panache, but they did so with players who broke the mould.
Perhaps the sense of loss was so acute and is still remembered today because it stemmed from the loss of young, talented people not yet close to fulfilling their potential.
Another reason the Babes are still important today is that their legacy has always been at the forefront of everything Manchester United stands for and strives to attain, and it is as important today as it was 50 years ago.
From the ‘Flowers of Manchester’ banner inside Old Trafford to the ethos of fast flowing football, complete with an emphasis on youth, employed by Alex Ferguson today, the memory and achievements of Busby and his Babes informs and moulds the club.
I find it extremely tragic that the disaster could have been avoided if the governing bodies for England football at that time had been more supportive of Manchester United’s involvement in the European Cup.
2. Born In Dudley, died at Munich
Possessing a combination of power, strength, dribbling ability, an excellent range of passing and shooting accuracy made him almost the complete player. In terms of ability, no English player has rivalled Edwards since.
It is clear that for many, Duncan Edwards legacy lives on. This was not only a supremely talented player with an incredible work ethic and desire to improve, but also a modest, affable man with his feet firmly planted on the ground.
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