When you think of the greatest Manchester United managers of all time, it's difficult not to mention Sir Matt Busby. The gaffer is an iconic figure at Old Trafford, and indeed, in football history.
During his time in the dugout, Busby claimed five First Division titles, along with two FA Cups and a famous European Cup during the 1967/68 season. He possessed an eye for talent, building the famous 'Busby Babes' side that won back-to-back league titles in the 1950s. But he is adored by the United faithful for helping to rebuild the club after the tragic Munich air disaster in 1958.
Eight players and three members of staff died after their plane crashed on the runway, including Duncan Edwards, who made a lasting impression on Busby. The managerial great stated that he believed the talented left-half was the most complete footballer in Britain, and potentially the world.
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Sir Matt Busby on Duncan Edwards
United manager 'gave up trying to spot flaws' in his game
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Edwards would sign for United in June 1952, but had been on the club's radar for some time before that. Former scout Jack O'Brien had spotted the youngster in 1948, informing Busby that he'd seen, "a 12-year-old schoolboy who merits special watching."
With the Red Devils making a conscious effort to sign talented young players for the first team, they moved to get Edwards on their books. Busby allegedly drove through the night to convince the 15-year-old to join United instead of other rivals.
It did not take long for the youngster to make his mark at the club, with Busby hailing him as "a truly amazing boy." It reached the point where the United head coach, while searching for ways his players could improve, gave up looking for flaws in Edwards' game.
"We used to look at players in training to see if we might have to get them to concentrate more on something. We looked at Duncan, and gave up trying to spot flaws in his game."
Consequently, he broke into the senior team quickly. Just eight months after signing his schoolboy forms, Edwards was given his debut against Cardiff at just 16 years old, making him one of the youngest players in United's history. His maturity at such a young age and natural ability ultimately led to Busby describing him as, "(the most) complete footballer in Britain — possibly the world."
He would go on to become a regular in United's team, and underlined his manager's faith in him by making 33 appearances in the 1955/56 season and 34 outings in the 1956/57 term, two years when the club lifted the First Division title. In total, he would make 175 appearances for the Red Devils before he was killed at just 21-years-old due to injuries he sustained in the Munich air disaster.
Duncan Edwards' Lasting Legacy
Sir Bobby Charlton named him 'the best player I ever played with'
Gary and Phil Neville select Duncan Edwards to appear on stamps for Euro 96.
Pic : Action Images
Despite only playing for the club for five years before his tragic death, Edwards is still regarded as one of the greatest English players in United's history. Busby believed that he was so talented and well-rounded that he could have been a regular fixture for England for many years.
"I am convinced that Duncan would have been a fixture in the England team well into the 1970s. Whatever was needed in a player, he had it."
Players held the United legend in just as high esteem as the iconic manager. Talking about Edwards in his autobiography, Sir Bobby Moore, who went on to captain England to their World Cup triumph in 1966, said that there would "never be another player like him." And Sir Bobby Charlton described his former teammate as, "the best player I ever played with." He added:
"I feel terrible trying to explain to people just how good he was, his death was the biggest single tragedy ever to happen to Manchester United and English football."