Who was Matt Busby? | Sir Matt Busby Biography and Wiki
Matt Busby more formally known as Sir Alexander Matthew Busby was a football player and manager from Scotland. He was Manchester United’s manager between 1945 and 1969.
Matt later managed them again for the second half of the 1970-71 season. He is lauded as the first manager of an English team to win the European Cup. In a span of 25 years with Manchester United, he won 13 trophies. He was arguably one of the greatest football managers of all time.
Sir Matt Busby Playing Career
His playing career began as a forward for Manchester City. He signed on to the team on the 11th of February in 1928. He was given a one-year contract worth £5 per week. His debut came a year later on the 2nd of November in 1929. He got a reputation for being an intelligent player and a proper passer of the ball. Eventually, he became a first-team regular. He helped the team win the 1934 FA Cup.
On the 12th of March in 1936, he was sold to Liverpool for £8,000. He made his debut two days later in an away loss against Huddersfield Town. Due to impressive performances, while donning the number 4 jersey, he was made Liverpool captain.
The Second World War brought an end to his playing days. He joined the King’s Liverpool Regiment. Matt played football during the war. He made appearances for clubs like Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Reading, Bournemouth, Hibernian, and Brentford.
Busby only made one official international appearance for Scotland. This was on the 4th of October in 1933. The game ended in a 3-2 loss to Wales at Ninian Park. He made seven appearances for Scotland against England during the Second World War, but these are considered unofficial.
Sir Busby Managerial Career
He became the manager at Manchester United on the 1st of October in 1945. He led the team to great success. His side won the 1948 FA Cup, this was the first major trophy United had won since 1911. He brought on the philosophy of recruiting young talented players to play. This was opposed to spending large sums of money on high-profile players. He brought on players as young as 16 and 17. As a result, he made relatively few signings from other clubs between 1951 and 1957.
He managed the Great Britain Team at the 1948 Summer Olympics. They had an impressive run before losing out to Yugoslavia in the semi-final. The game ended 3-1.
He rebuilt his team after the Munich tragedy around the survivors of the plane crash. He guided his team to the 1963 FA Cup final where his team won 3-1 against Leicester City. They went on to lift the league trophy in 1965 and 1967.
His biggest career success came on the 29th of May in 1968. His team won the European Cup.
Come to the end of the following season, he retired. Matt had already stated his intentions to do so on the 14th of January in 1969. He stayed on at the club as a director. He handed over managerial duties to former United player, Wilf McGuinness.
Busby returned briefly to managerial duties when McGuinness in December of 1970.
Mat Busby
Matt went on as club director for 11 years. He was made club president in 1980.
He was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire(CBE) in 1958.
Matt was knighted after United’s European Cup victory in 1968.
He was made a Knight Commander of St. Gregory by the Pope in 1972.
Matt Busby with Manchester United.
Matt Busby Death
Born on the 26th of May in 1909, he passed on on the 20th of January in 1994. He was 84 years old at the time of his passing.
Matt Busby Family
He was born in the mining village of Orbiston in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire in a two-room pitman’s cottage. He was born to Alexander and Hellen ‘Nellie’ Busby. His father was a miner who served and died in the First World War. Cause of death was a sniper’s bullet on the 23rd of April in 1917 at the Battle of Arras. His mother singlehandedly raised him and his siblings until her second marriage in 1919 to Harry Matthie.
He had five siblings, four sisters, and one brother. His sisters were Delia Anderson, Margaret Mcllvaney, Katie Busby, and Hellen Marshall. His brother was Jimmy Mathie.
Matt Busby Busby Babes
His young team picked up the affectionate nickname, the Busby Babes due to their youthfulness. The average age of the Babes was 21 and 22. The Babes won the league in 1956 and 1957. The young team was so successful that over a period of five years United’s major signings were two.
The team began the 1957-58 season with an ambitious start. Their aim was to get the treble; the Football League title, the FA Cup, and the European Cup. On the 6th of February in 1958 the plane carrying the Busby Babes crashed on the runway at Munich-Riem Airport. The team was coming back home from a match against Red Star Belgrade in the European Cup tournament. The death toll was 23.
8 of the Babes died as a result of the crash. They were:
- Roger Bryne(28 years)
- Mark Jones(24 years),
- Duncan Edwards(21 years)
- Eddie Colman(21 years)
- Billy Whelan(22 years)
- Tommy Taylor(26 years)
- David Pegg(22 years)
- Geoff Bent(25 years)
2 sustained career-ending injuries and as a result, were never able to play the sport again. They were:
- Jackie Blanchflower(24 years)
- Johnny Berry(31 years)
The world of football annually commemorates the date when the Busby Babes lost their lives.
Sir Matt Busby And Sir Alex Ferguson | Matt Busby And Alex Ferguson
Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Matt Busby are both Scottish and football players turned managers. They were both honoured with the Commander of the Most Excellent Order of The British Empire (CBE). They have coached Manchester United, the most successful club in the English Premier League for a quarter of a century.
Busby Way | Matt Busby Way | Sir Matt Busby Way Sign | Old Trafford Sir Matt Busby Way Stretford Manchester | Sir Matt Busby Way Old Trafford
Busby Way is a road in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England which is the location of Manchester United’s Old Trafford football ground. It was earlier known as Warwick Road North. In 1993, the road was renamed in honour of the legendary Manchester United manager.
Matt Busby Old Trafford Statue
Matt Busby George Best
George best was a legendary football player who died of alcoholism. He was discovered at the age of 15 by Bob Bishop. Bob Bishop, a Manchester United Scout, wrote a telegram to Matt. The telegram read: “I think I’ve found you a genius.” George was invited to train by Matt but left after two years claiming to be homesick. He returned and continued playing as an amateur. His playing was however affected by his alcoholism and he died of liver failure at the age of 59.
Bill Shankly And Matt Busby
Matt and Bill Shankly are both great post war managers of British football teams. They both achieved an uncommon status as true great legends in their own time. Matt and Bill Shankly were both motivators. They also had a rare way of spoting talent. Bill Shankly, a Scottish player and manager, was famoulsy known as a Liverpool manager. During his era, Bill brought success to Liverpool, gaining promotion to the First Division and winning three League Championships and the UEFA Cup.
Matt and Bill Shankly were rival managers as they both managed competing teams, Manchester United and Liverpool respectively.
Premier Inn Sir Matt Busby Way
Premier Inn is one of the closest hotel near Old Trafford. The Premier inn hotel is on Sir Alex Ferguson Way, Stretford, Manchester M17 1WS, UK and their phone address is +44 871 527 8750