Profile of Matt Busby on Famous Like Me

Sir Matthew Busby, CBE (26 May 1909–20 January 1994) was a football player and manager, most noted for his management of Manchester United during the 1950s and 1960s.

Born in 1909 in a two-roomed pitman’s cottage in the Lanarkshire mining village of Orbiston, the young Matthew Busby was no stranger to loss. His father and all his uncles were killed in the First World War. Luckily, Busby had the ability to play football well.

As a player, Busby enjoyed spells at Manchester City 1929-1936 (where he won an FA Cup Winner's medal in 1934) and Liverpool 1936-1940. He also played at the international level for Scotland once, but like so many of his contemporaries, Busby's playing-career was cut short by World War II.

After peace was declared in 1945, the 36 year old Busby was offered a job on the coaching-staff at Anfield. He chose instead to become the manager of Manchester United, beginning in October. His team were runners up in the league in 1947, 1948, 1949, and 1952 before winning the championship in 1952. During this time, the team picked up the affectionate nickname the Busby Babes, due to the youthfulness of some of the players he signed. Notable members of the team at this time included Bobby Charlton and Duncan Edwards. They won the league in both 1956 and 1957 and were beaten FA Cup finalists in 1957.

In 1958, tragedy struck the Busby Babes as the Munich air disaster took the lives of eight members of the team. Busby himself was severely injured and was twice given last rites. Busby had been appointed as manager of Scotland in January 1958 for the World Cup that summer in Sweden, but Trainer Dawson Walker was forced to take over. Busby did take charge of the team for two games later that year against Wales and Northern Ireland, giving Denis Law his first cap. He resigned in December.

In the 1960s, Busby rebuilt the Manchester United team, with famous players including Denis Law and George Best. The biggest success of his career came in 1968 when the team won the European Cup. He retired as manager in 1969, and remained at the club as a director until 1982.

Busby was awarded the CBE in 1958 and knighted following the European Cup victory in 1968.

He was mentioned in the Beatles song, "Dig It".

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