The legendary Red Devils coach: The road to success

Chapter 11 From Munich to Wembley

"The Munich air crash is the most tragic page in the history of the Red Devils club, and it is always worth remembering by the Red Devils fans. What is even more worthy of the Red Devils fans to remember and be proud of is that after suffering a huge blow, the team finally held on and rose again from the ruins to achieve greater glory. The Munich air crash made every Red Devils fan remember the spirit of 'Red Devils will never die'."

--Inscription

Busby had already won the league title and FA Cup in charge of the Red Devils, but he had lofty ambitions and decided to lead the Red Devils to participate in the European Club Champions League.

Busby said: "The Red Devils are now the best team in England. This club deserves all the honors. We want to march towards the best team in Europe."

The English Football Association does not agree with the Red Devils participating in European competitions and does not want the English League One team to be out of control, so it obstructs them.

Busby announced the club's decision to the media and wrote letters to several members of Parliament, finally leading the Red Devils to break through the obstacles.

Starting in 1956, the Red Devils opened the prelude for English football clubs to participate in European competitions, opening the door to Europe for English football. After that, English teams began to enter European competitions, and the tide of the times surged forward.

The Red Devils achieved good results in their first European Champions Cup participation. In the first game, the Red Devils defeated the Belgian champions Anderlecht with a score of 10-0.

10-0, and a brutal massacre of a championship team.

This is also the biggest score record set by the Red Devils in European competitions since the team was founded, and it will never be repeated again.

"Even in England, the Red Devils haven't played such an aggressive offensive."

The weak opponent also made the media watching the game at a loss, "What kind of football does Anderlecht play?"

"Do they have a tactic? Six strikers? No midfield? Everyone running around except the goalkeeper?"

"A community team in England shouldn't be any worse than them, right?"

The Red Devils' fierce offensive firepower and fierce offensive shocked the whole of Europe.

红魔在对手客场同样轻松取胜，两回合打了一个12比0；随后红魔两回合3比2战胜多特蒙德，6比5干掉西甲劲旅毕尔巴鄂竞技，杀入了半决赛。

In the semi-finals, the Red Devils unfortunately lost to the defending champions Real Madrid, ending their journey in the European Champions Cup.

The Red Devils' performance in the European Champions League shocked the entire European football world. This team is full of youthful style, clean and neat playing style, aggressive attacking, and fast rhythm, which quickly conquered fans on the European continent.

1957至58赛季红魔继续参加欧洲冠军杯比赛。巴斯比的球队先是以9比2的总比分横扫沙姆洛克流浪者队，随后两回合3比1淘汰杜克拉布拉格队，接着在主场2比1战胜贝尔格莱德红星队，客场3比3战平对手晋级。

Everything was going well, but no one expected the unexpected to happen.

On the evening of February 1958, 2, after playing against Red Star Belgrade, the Red Devils flew back to the UK from Munich Airport. The plane carrying 6 people including Red Devils club officials, coaches, players and reporters crashed due to pilot error when taking off from Munich Airport on a snowy night. The plane then disintegrated, caught fire and exploded.

This is the "Munich Air Crash" that shocked the football world.

The plane crash caused the death of 22 people, including 8 players of Manchester United's first team, 3 officials and 8 journalists. The Red Devils players who died were Duncan Edwards, Tommy Taylor, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Eddie Kerman, Roger Byrne, Billy Whelan and Jeff Bent, while the Red Devils coach Busby was seriously injured and on the verge of death several times. He almost couldn't be rescued. Bobby Charlton and other players survived the disaster. More than 3 people were seriously injured and would never return to the stadium to play again. Others also had varying degrees of trauma.

The tragic casualties almost destroyed the entire Red Devils club. When the news reached Manchester, the entire club and all the fans were stunned. They couldn't believe the bad news. More than half of the main players died, the coach was seriously injured and on the verge of death, and the remaining players were hit hard... The entire team was almost destroyed.

In the critical moment, the Red Devils Club held an emergency meeting and decided not to disband the team, but to stick with it and prepare for the aftermath.

The Red Devils fans also stood with the team, donating money and supplies, and contributing money and effort to share the difficult times with the club.

"The flag can never fall!" Busby held Murphy's hands tightly and said on the verge of life and death, "The fighting spirit of the Red Devils can never be abandoned. We are the Red Devils, the Red Devils!"

Busby was seriously injured and had a difficult time recovering. He was unable to take charge of the team for a long time. Murphy had no choice but to take on the responsibility and began the difficult reconstruction.

Murphy called the remaining players for training. Greg and Fox, who were injured in the plane crash, also returned to the team, but even so, the team was far from enough for normal training. The Red Devils had to issue an emergency call, and some old players who had played for the team signed up and were willing to return to the old team. Some new players also actively signed up, hoping to join this great team to fight.

Murphy put together a temporary team and played in the fifth round of the FA Cup on the 13th day after the plane crash.

Although the opponent Sheffield Wednesday called for the game to be postponed or cancelled, the Red Devils did not accept such "good intentions". Fulks and Gregg, who survived the Munich air crash, started the game, leading two first-team players who made their debut, five reserve players, and two new signings.

Before the game, the Sheffield Wednesday team and the audience observed a long moment of silence and applauded the Red Devils.

The game was very depressing and the Red Devils eventually won 3-0.

The Red Devils' European Champions League match also continued. The Red Devils defeated Serie A giants AC Milan 2-1 in the first round, but were defeated by their opponents away from home. The total score of the two rounds was lost to the opponent, and they stopped in the semi-finals.

The Red Devils then played the rest of the league, ultimately finishing ninth.

The air crash that the Red Devils encountered transcended the field of football and transcended national, racial and all barriers... Their spirit of tenacity and self-reliance is even more touching.

The Red Devils are in a business crisis, and many staff members have chosen to share the difficulties with the club, and even gave up their salaries. Fans have given financial assistance, and many clubs have also extended a hand. In addition to launching donations, they have also invited the Red Devils to play friendly matches and sent bonuses and ticket revenue to the Red Devils...

After Busby recovered, he continued to coach the team, determined to complete his unfinished business.

In 1961, Busby signed George Best, who was only 15 years old, for the Red Devils, marking an important chapter for the new Red Devils. This genius from Belfast became the most famous star in the history of the Red Devils, and also the most charming guy. Best was handsome, charming, and had amazing skills. He had delicate and varied ball control skills, various incredible skills, and a very magical imagination. He could often make all kinds of fantastic and gorgeous moves. Busby carefully cultivated Best and let him play for the Red Devils first team in September 1963. Best, who was only 9 years old at the time, reached his peak when he debuted, and his legendary journey began from then on.

One year after buying Best, Busby bought striker Denis Law for a record price of £1962 in August 8. Denis Law was a well-known player with superb skills and a rare general in the attack line. Under Busby's careful guidance, Denis Law showed a different kind of focus in the Red Devils and his ability reached a new peak. In addition to Best and Law, Bobby Charlton also regained his confidence and returned to a good state.

The Red Devils once again rose in an unstoppable manner, winning the FA Cup in 1963. And Denis Law shone in the 1963-64 season, scoring 30 goals in 30 games. His outstanding performance shone throughout the world, and he was named European Footballer of the Year.

This is also the first Golden Globe Award in the history of the Red Devils.

By the 1964-1965 season, the Red Devils were invincible in the league and eventually won the championship.

After the Red Devils won the championship, Bobby Charlton, Stiles and John Connolly played for England in the 1966 World Cup and won the World Cup. Bobby Charlton played well and almost single-handedly pushed England to the championship throne, and he was also awarded the European Footballer of the Year.

In the 1966-1967 season, the Red Devils successfully defended their league title and once again dominated English football.

When the Red Devils rose again, Busby suggested using "Red Devils" as the team's nickname. Busby said: "I hope the fans call this team 'Red Devils', which represents our spiritual qualities. I hope the Red Devils will never give up the pursuit of victory."

In this way, "Red Devils" became the nickname of the Red Devils and has been used to this day.

In the 1967-68 season, Busby led the Red Devils to the European Cup again. The regrouped Red Devils swept all the way, defeating the Scottish team Herbery, the Yugoslav team Sarajevo, the Polish team Zabrze, and even defeated the favorite to win the championship, Real Madrid, in the semi-finals, taking the most crucial step.

On May 1968, 5, exactly 29 years after the Munich air crash, the Red Devils faced Portugal's Benfica at Wembley Stadium for the European Cup.

Bobby Charlton and Bill Fox, who survived the plane crash, both started the game, which made the team's fighting spirit stronger. The Red Devils played vigorously at the beginning of the game and kept attacking. Bobby Charlton scored the first goal, and Benfica equalized in the 81st minute. After the Red Devils defended Ulysses's single-handed shot, the two teams entered overtime. In the overtime, the Red Devils fought harder and harder, while the opponent had no physical strength at all. In the end, Best, Kidd and Charlton each scored a goal, securing the victory with a score of 4-1.

After the game, Bobby Charlton, whose hair was already thinning, lay on the grass for a long time, tears streaming down his face. Busby was shaking all over, tears streaming down his face, unable to stop. At the award ceremony, Busby lifted the championship trophy high eight times, and each time he lifted it he read the name of a player who had passed away 8 years ago.

At that moment, the fans' cheers reached the sky and the applause echoed like thunder in Wembley Stadium.

Solemnity in the hustle and bustle, memorial service in the glory... This was a moment of mixed emotions for Busby, as he could finally comfort those deceased souls.

Ten years ago, the Red Devils dream team created by Busby was destroyed in a plane crash; ten years later, he led the new Red Devils to the top of Europe.

This year, Best won the European Footballer of the Year honor, Busby was named the Best Coach in Europe and was awarded the Knighthood by the Queen of England.

Busby had no regrets and resigned as head coach of the Red Devils in 1969.

When the 60-year-old Scottish man left, the whole city of Manchester came out and more than 10 people lined the streets to see him off.

从1945年开始执教到1969年离开俱乐部，巴斯比在24年时间里给红魔带来了1个欧冠冠军、5个联赛冠军、3个欧洲足球先生，建立了一个红色的王朝。

Busby left the Red Devils not only golden trophies, but also spiritual wealth that cannot be measured in money.

Busby believes that winning at all costs is necessary, but it does not represent real achievement. When you fight bravely with all your strength, even if you lose, your reputation will not be damaged. Busby said, "I hope the Red Devils are a courageous team, pursuing great scenes, making the game beautiful and the confrontation exciting. I like the positive confrontation between teams, wonderful technology, gorgeous tactics, and brisk rhythm. This is the true meaning of the charm of football. I hope that fans can experience the passion and enthusiasm of our team, and the spirit of never giving up in the face of difficulties - this is the football I pursue."

The Red Devils specially built a statue for the legendary coach in front of the Old Trafford stadium square. Opposite the Busby statue, three legendary heroes of the Red Devils, Dennis Law, Charlton and Best, were also carved into bronze statues. They are called the "Three Saints of the Red Devils" by fans. Together with the legendary coach, they constitute the great symbol of the Red Devils' glorious era.

The Red Devils fell into a trough again. They performed mediocrely in the 1968-69 season, and then went from bad to worse. In the 1972-1973 season, they were unfortunately relegated to the second division. Although they returned to the first division the following season, they could not regain their former glory.

The Red Devils seem to have lost their magic. Although the club has been willing to spend big on signings and has continued to select famous coaches, it still cannot return to its peak.