Matt Busby is one of the many great Scottish managers to have graced top-level English football. Born in Bellshill, about 10 miles from Glasgow, in 1909, he is up there with the likes of Bill Shankly, Jock Stein, Kenny Dalglish and, we must grudgingly admit, Alex Ferguson, as one of the greatest managers of all time from north of the border.
Busby played once for his country in a full international and was a decent player – more of that very soon – but he is undoubtedly most famous for his time as the manager of Liverpool’s great rivals, Manchester United. Busby won five First Division titles as United boss, as well as two FA Cups, but perhaps his finest hour was when he led the Red Devils to glory in the 1967/68 European Cup.
That great team, that featured George Best, Bobby Charlton and other stars, became the first English team to win the European Cup, as the Champions League was then known. Liverpool may be ahead of Man United by six wins to three in the competition but there is no escaping the fact that it was the Manchester outfit that got there first.
But perhaps more than the trophies that Busby won, it is the fact that he was the boss at the time of the Munich air disaster, and his reaction in the aftermath, that has cemented his status as a Man United legend. Of course, the Reds are no strangers to seeing a brilliant manager guide the club – and in Dalglish’s case the city – with real grace after a tragedy.
From a football perspective, Busby had to deal with the loss of several of his best players due to the terrible incident, which took place in February 1958. A total of 23 people died, whilst Busby himself was very badly injured, staying in hospital for a couple of months. His brilliant team, nicknamed the “Busby Babes”, was ripped apart, with players such as Duncan Edwards, who had the potential to be an all-time great, perishing.
Edwards was a sensational midfielder who had 18 full England caps (and five goals) at the age of 21 when he died and who knows how good he would have become. He was not the only top-class young player to die though, and that Busby was able to rebuild the club and form a side that would go on to win the European Cup is a huge testament to what an incredible manager he was.
But Did You Know?
Today marks 30 years without Sir Matt Busby.
Forever missed in person but always with us in spirit.
❤️♾️ pic.twitter.com/cJnLqjVioe
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 20, 2024
It pains us to sing the praises of anybody associated with Man United but it is made a little bit easier in light of the fact that Busby was actually a Red well before he was a Red Devil. Before we look into this in more detail, let’s lay down three unexpected things about Man United’s first great manager, just to really spin your mind!
- His first name was actually Alexander
- He played 229 games for Man City
- He was captain of Liverpool and appeared 122 times for the club
It is unexpected, to say the least, that one of the greatest figures in the history of Man United spent most of his playing career at Man City, captained their other great rivals .. and is called Alexander! Busby, you dark horse!
Liverpool Career
Al, as we suspect at least someone must have called Sir Matt at least once, played for Denny Hibernian as a youngster. Like many Scottish players throughout the 20th century, he soon headed south, lured by the big bucks on offer. At the age of just 18 he signed for big-spenders Man City for the princely wage of £5 per week.
At the time, early in 1928, his career was uncertain, with his mother set to emigrate to the United States. His father had been killed 11 years earlier in the First World War and had Busby headed west with his mother the whole history of football in England could have been very different.
His initial contract had a clause allowing him to leave for America when it ended, if he so chose, but luckily for Man United, as it would turn out many years later, he decided to stay in England. He stayed with City for almost eight years, making 204 league appearances for them, all in the top flight. He won the 1933/34 FA Cup with the Cityzens and that would prove his only honour as a player.
Manchester to Liverpool
He fell out of favour at City and in March 1936 Liverpool splashed out £8,000 to secure his services. He settled well on Merseyside and made the number four shirt his own, this number typically belonging to the right-half at the time and meaning that the Scot was essentially a midfielder. He could also play slightly further up the pitch, as an inside forward, which was where he spent some of his younger years at City, but it was really as a right-half that he excelled with Liverpool.
He was a regular fixture for the Reds and alongside Jimmy McDougall and Tom Bradshaw he formed an excellent midfield. Liverpool were not a great side at this time, and whilst they finished seventh in 1934/35, they were often battling it out at the wrong end of the table during Busby’s time.
Oh, Captain, My Captain
Busby was no doubt coming to the end of his career as a player anyway but the Second World War effectively made sure he did not play any official league games for the Reds beyond the 1938/39 campaign. Before things came to an end though, Busby was honoured by being given the role of captain, their last captain until Willie Fagan in 1945.
He was consistent, a leader on and off the pitch, and was adept at helping other players along. A certain Bob Paisley signed for Liverpool in May 1939 and it is said that Busby helped the youngster adapt to life on Merseyside. They formed a friendship that endured, even when they were essentially rivals through the older man’s eventual affinity to Man United. So there it is, Sir Alex Busby: Man City and Liverpool stalwart!