Manchester United and the football world lost a true great with the death of Duncan Edwards in 1958.
Eight players lost their lives in the tragic Munich Air Disaster in 1958. The last to pass away was Duncan Edwards, who fought on in hospital for 15 days before succumbing to his injuries.
Edwards was only 21 years-old, and in his brief career he had managed to make a big impression. He made his debut at just 16 in 1953, and is one of the youngest players to ever represent the club.
During his tragically short career, Edwards made 177 club appearances, winning one league title, also making 18 appearances for England.
Edwards’ death robbed the world of greatness. This was a player who was leading the team into the European Cup semi-finals, who was destined to feature for his country at the 1958 World Cup.
To put Duncan Edwards’ true greatness into words, we turn it over to those who watched him play, and those who played alongside him…
Duncan Edwards takes a throw-in, black and white picture
Photo by Central Press/Getty Images
Sir Matt Busby
Sir Matt Busby was the Manchester United manager who handed Duncan Edwards his debut. Busby survived the crash and was able to rebuild the club in the aftermath. He remained stung by the loss of his players, Edwards included.
“His death, as far as football is concerned, was the single biggest tragedy that has happened to England and Manchester United.
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“He was then, and has always remained to me incomparable.”
Sir Bobby Charlton
Sir Bobby Charlton was a teammate of Duncan Edwards, and always spoke with great reverence about his younger colleague.
“Duncan was incomparable. He was such a talent, I always felt inferior to him.
“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.
“I always felt I could compare well with any player – except Duncan. He didn’t have a fault with his game.”
Feel free to leave your tributes to the Busby Babes and the lives lost in the 1958 Munich Air Disaster
If you were old enough to see the 1958 team, please share your memories / Younger readers, let us know what the team means to you…
Munich tribute
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Sir Stanley Matthews
English football legend Sir Stanley Matthews’ career crossed over with Edwards, and he was in awe of the youngster’s talent.
“For all of his tender years, he was the most complete player of his time and it was a tragedy that his life was taken in the Munich disaster of 1958.
“When the going was rough, Duncan would be as unmoved as a rock in a raging sea, but for all of his considerable size, he possessed the most deft of skills.”
Sir Bobby Robson
Former manager Sir Bobby Robson went up against Edwards during his playing career, and was left with a lasting impression.
“Duncan tackled you with all his weight and if you were expecting a hard tackle he didn’t disappoint you!
“What was beyond dispute was that Duncan Edwards at the age of 21 was the finest young player in this country at that time and surely would have gone on to be one of the greatest players the world has ever seen.”
Jimmy Armfield
Former England star Jimmy Armfield claimed that with Edwards and his three international colleagues, the Three Lions would have dominated the world stage.
“With Edwards, [Roger] Byrne and [Tommy] Taylor, we would have won the World Cup in 1958 and then four years later.
“England could have had a hat-trick of World Cup wins.”
Duncan Edwards of Manchester United
Photo by Chapman/Daily Mirror /Mirrorpix via Getty Images
Tommy Docherty
Former Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty was convinced that Edwards would have ascended to true football greatness.
“There is no doubt in my mind that Duncan would have become the greatest player ever. Not just in British football, with United and England, but the best in the world.
“George Best was something special, as was Pele and Maradona, but in my mind Duncan was much better in terms of all-round ability and skill.”
Wilf McGuinness
Wilf McGuinness put Duncan Edwards in context by comparing him to two great midfielders who later wore the Manchester United shirt with distinction.
“Where Duncan was so good was that every time he had the ball he did the right thing with it, and then when the ball was lost he was the first to get it back. He was the complete player.
“Bryan Robson and Roy Keane are great players, they cover every blade of grass, and Duncan Edwards was similar to them only stronger in many ways.”
Harry Redknapp
Former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp said he believed Edwards was destined to captain England to World Cup glory.
”To be that much better than Bobby Charlton, it tells you how good he was.
“Bobby Moore was my big pal, but if Duncan had been alive he’d have probably been captain of England in the 1966 World Cup. He’d have still been in his prime.”
Nobby Stiles
Former Manchester United star Nobby Stiles recalled the impact that Duncan Edwards’ battle for his life had on the city.
“For a while it seemed that the only thing that kept Manchester going was that Duncan Edwards was still alive.
“He fought for his life for 15 days and then his great heart gave out. At his funeral back in Worcestershire, the vicar said that we would see great talent again, even genius, but there would only be one Duncan Edwards.”
Don Revie
Former England boss Don Revie was in no doubt that Duncan Edwards belonged among the true greats of the football world.
“You don’t hear many professionals talk lightly of greatness because it is so rare, but that is what I saw in Duncan Edwards the first time I set eyes on him.
“He reached the same fabulous standard at left-half, centre-half, inside-left and centre-forward. He is the kind of player managers dream about.”
The Busby Babes reached the European Cup semi-finals in 1957 and 1958
Were the Busby Babes destined to go all the way in the European Cup before the Munich air disaster?
Were the Busby Babes destined to go all the way in the European Cup before the Munich air disaster?
Getty Images
Jimmy Murphy
Sir Matt Busby’s former assistant Jimmy Murphy went a step further, to proclaim Duncan Edwards as the greatest sportsman of all time.
“When I used to hear Muhammad Ali proclaim to the world that he was the greatest, I used to smile.
“You see, the greatest of them all was an English footballer named Duncan Edwards.”
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