Former Deputy Editor of the Official United Magazine, Sam Pilger, has written an excellent book on United’s best ever XI. The eleven players are named and reviewed, looking at their qualities and revealing stories you probably haven’t heard before.
One of the centre-back positions in our best ever team goes to Duncan Edwards. Here’s an excerpt from Best XI Manchester United:
LESS THAN FOUR months before his life was tragically cut short, Duncan Edwards played one of his last internationals for England against Wales at Ninian Park in Cardiff.
On that day in November 1957, the Welsh manager was Edwards’ mentor and Manchester United’s assistant manager Jimmy Murphy.
Before the game Murphy stood in the centre of the Welsh dressing room, going through the strengths and weaknesses of each member of the England side in great detail.
He talked about ten players, but not Edwards, prompting Reg Davies, the Newcastle inside-forward, to put up his hand.
“What about Edwards?”
“Just keep out of his way son, there’s nothing I could say that could ever help us.”
Edwards inspired this kind of rare awe in all those who saw him play in the five years between his debut and his premature death.
The greatest Busby Babe of all, he has become an almost mythical figure, forever young. His legend is kept alive by only a few black and white newsreels and the memories of those who shared a pitch with him.
I once asked Sir Bobby Charlton to describe how good he was, and sitting in a box overlooking Old Trafford, he turned and looked at the pitch Edwards had once bestrode.
“He was the only player who made me feel inferior,” he said. “Duncan was without doubt the best player to ever come out of this place, and there’s been some competition down the years. He was colossal and I wouldn’t use that word to describe anyone else. He had such presence, he dominated every game all over the pitch. Had he lived, he would have been the best player in the world. He was sensational, and it is difficult to convey that. It is sad there isn’t enough film to show today’s youngsters just how good he was.”
By the time he died at 21, Edwards had already played for United 177 times, winning two League Championships, three FA Youth Cups, an FA Cup runners-up medal and 18 England caps. He had become both the youngest player to appear in the First Division at just 16 years and 184 years and the youngest England international of the 20th century, aged 18 years and 183 days, a record which stood for nearly 43 years before Michael Owen claimed it.
Edwards was revered for his all-round game and versatility, and how he could excel at almost every position on the pitch, whether it was centre-half, centre-forward, inside forward or half-back. “He was never bothered where he played,” said Murphy.
However, he would make the majority of his appearances as a left-half, a hybrid between a defender and a midfielder, which was his favourite position as he was constantly involved and could use both his defensive and attacking abilities.
“He was Roy Keane and Bryan Robson combined, but in a bigger body,” is how his former teammate Wilf McGuinness described him. “He could play as an attacker, creator or defender and be the best player on the pitch… He was world class when United had the ball, and when the opposition has the ball he was our best defender.”
“Most players they are good at certain things; in the air, or good with their left or right foot, they read the game well, or they have pace. But Duncan had it all, he really was better at everything than anyone else,” said Charlton. “From the first moment I saw him he could play anywhere and do anything. He was brave, great in the tackle, could pass it long or short and score goals. When I arrived at United Duncan was the only player who could do things I knew I wasn’t capable of.”
In February 1958 United made it to the semi-finals of the European Cup for a second consecutive season with a 3-3 draw against Red Star Belgrade. After the game Red Star’s Dragoslav Sekularac called Edwards: “Maybe the greatest player in the world.”
On the way back from Belgrade, United’s plane stopped to refuel in Munich. Amid the snow and ice, United’s plane twice aborted it’s take-off and the passengers returned to the terminal. Once inside, Edwards assumed they would stay overnight and sent a telegram to his landlady Mrs. Dorman in Stretford: ‘All flights cancelled. Flying tomorrow. Duncan.’
But the captain of the BEA Elizabethan decided to make one final attempt to take-off, which ended in the crash that would kill 23 people, including seven of Edwards’ teammates.
Edwards sustained terrible injuries, including damaged kidneys, broken ribs, a collapsed lung, a broken pelvis and several fractures of his right thigh, and for fifteen days he bravely clung to life.
In the days after the crash Jimmy Murphy visited Edwards in the Rechts der Isar Hospital in Munich accompanied by United’s goalkeeper Harry Gregg, who survived the crash physically unscathed. Gregg recalled how Duncan was lying still when they approached his bed, then suddenly opened his eyes and asked, “What time is the kick-off against Wolves? I mustn’t miss that game.” United’s next game was indeed against Wolves that weekend. An emotional Murphy bent down to him and whispered, “Three o’clock son.” Duncan replied: “Get stuck in!”
During those dark days, Bobby Charlton recalls visiting Edwards in his bed, and seeing how much pain he was in. A distressed Edwards asked where the gold watch Real Madrid had presented to him was, prompting Murphy to order a search of the wreckage. The battered watch was recovered and was strapped back onto Edwards’
wrist, bringing him some relief and happiness.
But on February 21 at 2.15am Edwards finally succumbed to his injuries. He was dead at only 21. “I have seen death many, many times, but not like this,” said one of the surgeons who tended to Edwards. “In all my years I have never seen a hospital staff so upset. This boy we have never seen before, he is so young, so strong… so
brave. Ach, but he had no chance.”
Maybe the passage of time has dulled the impact of this loss to English football, but imagine if Wayne Rooney or David Beckham had died at the same age. It is too dreadful to contemplate.
In the corridors of the youth academy at Manchester United’s training ground there is now an enormous 10ft poster of Duncan Edwards to inspire the generations that seek to follow him.
If Edwards had survived, it was believed his injuries were so serious he would almost certainly never have played football again. The sports writer Frank Taylor, who survived the crash at Munich, and recovered in the same hospital as Edwards, wrote about his harrowing experience in his book The Day A Team Died.
“One of Duncan’s nearest and dearest friends told me: ‘Maybe it was better this way. The doctors said, had he lived, he might have had to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Duncan couldn’t have stood that. Now I can remember him as he was: the greatest thing that has happened in British football for years.’
This e-book is available at a steal for just £2.99 on Amazon and is well worth it.
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To win a copy of this e-book, leave your best ever United XI in the comments below (make sure you are posting with a valid e-mail address).
Man Utd News 24/7
STR – I LOVE YOU I will take my sweet time in reading and enjoying this article…
To everyone
I urge you all out of respect to keep this particular thread ON topic no matter how long it becomes. We have plenty of other threads for banter and debates.
RIP Duncan
‘He was Robson and Keane combined but in a bigger body’
The mere thought gives me goosebumps
A fitting tribute to the greatest ever…… Dear God, the mention of his name gets me all emotional
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr75rgusNJU
Excellent Article the emotion received by looking through this just brilliant.
The Flowers of Manchester, Always Remembered – Never Forgotten.
RIP Big Dunc and all other fellow WARRIORS.
it is too sad, what a tragedy.
Rest In Peace Busby Babes.
Think it say’s it all when hearing Sir Bobby Charlton describe how blessed Duncan Edwards was espically when taking into account the personal he’s played with,against, or even watched. i have a book on big Dunc with the picture shown on this blog has the front cover. bit of a UNITED NERD have’nt got round to reading it yet,keep the best till last;-)
Brigadier19
Watch the video I posted mate and tell me honestly if a tear does not roll down the face
That brought tears to my eyes, the film ‘United’ didn’t capture all the emotions that I experienced when reading articles and hearing about Duncan.. I can only wish to have seen Duncan live, from what I hear I feel so jealous and sometimes angry that the world was robbed of Big Duncan.. I don’t know how good he was but when people say messi this pele that I just think to myself, what would have been said of this great man had this tradgedy not happened.. R.I.P Duncan forever in our thoughts!
A lovely commemoration of Big Dunc, for which many thanks. As I have written before, it was Munich that started my love affair with United, but it was specifically Duncan Edwards that engaged my emotions at first.Each day I would rush to read the papers as they were delivered to get the latest news about him as he manfully struggled on in the face of his terrible injuries. I was heart-broken when he finally died, as schoolfriends from those days still recall. It pleases me enormously that his story is still being told so another generation get some sense of what Duncan meant, and why he is remembered with such awe, respect – and love.
I have always read about him anytime d Munich air disaster gets mentioned. How I wish England regains his sublime position in world football& man utd becomes d greatest football club in Europe& d world again, in his memory. True heroes& legends like this make united a team after my heart
‘But on February 21 at 2.15am Edwards finally succumbed to his injuries. He was dead at only 21. “I have seen death many, many times, but not like this,” said one of the surgeons who tended to Edwards. “In all my years I have never seen a hospital staff so upset. This boy we have never seen before, he is so young, so strong… so
brave. Ach, but he had no chance.”
I remember being about 18 me and mates would sit in the pub with my dad and his mates they would talk about united past and Present the 48 side the pre Munic team and alway about Duncan Edwards. Funny enough when other great players came along Maradona Cryuff who ever it was they all said not as good as Duncan . My dad friend was good friends with all the Munic team they use to go out on a Saturday night in Manchester center i think it was called the long room . I allways spare a thought for him in the 6th of Feburay he lost his mates that day.
Cedars
Got to ten seconds buddy, just the over ridding emotions hairs stand on end goosebumps and the like.
He was so composed from footage I have seen.
A comment from the commentator on that video which made me smile goes as follows –
”A Fourteen Stone Footballer who shot his load like a Cannon”
A Beast of a Man, A Warrior as a Footballer and A bloody damn good guy.
RIP Duncan!
My best United XI would be:
Schmeichel
G. Neville – D. Edwards – Vidic – D. Irwin
D. Beckham – R. Keane – P. Scoles – R. Giggs
G. Best – E. Cantona
I find its always hard to set up a best XI with United. We’ve had so many great legends over the years and it is never easy to pick the best of the best. But boiling it down you have to look at the team composition aswell as the individual player. I find these XI a good mix of important teamplayers and gamewinners.
Players who are very close runner ups imo are W. Rooney, C. Ronaldo, R. v. Nistelroy, B. Charlton, B.Robson, S. Bruce, S. Hughes, E. v. Sar and more. To many great players.
And a mentioning to my favourite sqaud player in recent years JOS, you’ve been missed this season.
keeping it off topic!
The worst thing that happened to football is Barcelona. The way they manipulate match officials is already legendary. add to that the diving and simulation, it seems these players are featherweght, rolling about at the slightest touch then mobbing the ref to have a call go their way.
I stopped watching their game yesterday after the second penalty and i’ve vowed to never bother again.
Such a disgrace
@Cedars
That is a brilliant video, brings a tear to the eye but also makes me so proud of our history.
If the youngsters at united are aware of what Duncan Edwards meant to United then every time they walk past his 10ft poster @ the academy it should serve as a marker of the heights they need to reach to play for the greatest football team on planet earth.
RIP Duncan and our beloved 1958 heroes who sadly passed away with him..
I nearly cried!
RIP Duncan!
Bit off topic i know, but does anyone else think some reds are getting ahead of themselves in the title race? go and have a read!
http://oldtraffordfaithful.com/lets-not-get-ahead-of-ourselves-just-yet/#more-189
I have been reading this blog for over a year now and it took this post to comment for the first time. There are tears rolling down my cheek as I am typing. I am not an emotional person never cried much even when my old man passed away. But whenever I read anything about Munich disaster and Duncan Edwards I cant stop myself from shedding a tear or two. I was not fortunate enough to be born in that era. I wish I could have watched that greatest ever team on field and I envy those who did.
Sadly, I can only hear the tales of Duncan Edwards, and thanks to Cedars, watch video clips. Likewise, I have also missed watching Charlton, Robson, Law. Youtube clippings are not enough for me to understand and appreciate their greatness. The only exception being Georgie Best – I remember watching a documentary on him some 20 yrs back, and wondering what sort of magician that man was. And simply speaking, there’s more of Georgie Best (deservedly, or otherwise) available for my generation to view, than say, Law, or Charlton. So, in all humility and limited knowledge, and hoping that I learn more about this great club through the ebook, my favorite XI, based on what I have seen of United:
Schmeichel
G. Neville Rio Vidic Irwin
Best Keane Scholes Giggs
Cantona
RVN
One story about Big Dunc I have never seen recorded. My elder brother, a City fan, came home in great delight claiming my eldest brother and I supported “a criminal!” Manchester Evening News had a report that Edwards had been stopped by the police the previous night. Wonderfully, knowing what modern footballers get up to, this was for riding his bike home from his girl friend’s house without lights!
Presumably he was not charged, or he had friends in high places – I heard nothing more about it. I would like to think that Eddie Colman was in the running for a place in this team.
@Cedars: That quote from the doctor brought tears to me eyes….
theredderdevil
There are many other threads to discuss Barcelona, please show some respect
Schemichel
G. Neville Vidic Stam Irwin
Best Keane Scholes Giggs
Charlton Cantona
Isn’t it true that when players had to stay behind to work on weaknesses, he was the only one who didn’t!
duncan edwards. the stuff of legends. nice to get that history shot in the arm every now and then of this amazing football club we all love and adore
‘Duncan should never have died, he was immortal a god’
The quote is in the video, I do not know who said it
Jeet
Tears to my eyes too pal
@Cedars
NOW LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO!!
Its a United marathon on YouTube for the next few hours, thank you very much!! (“,)
Brigadier19 says: “Got to ten seconds buddy, just the over ridding emotions hairs stand on end goosebumps and the like.”
How many times have I got that feeling when reading or watching footage about Munich.
It’s a feeling nothing else inspires in me and revindicates my love for a truly great sporting institution.
A lengthy documentary for the Red Army
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnhAL5xw-u8
Excellent article horrible tragedy
Schmeichel
Edwards Ferdinand Vidic Irwin
Ronaldo Keane Scholes Giggs
Charlton
Cantona
@Cedars – When I click on the link you have given of Duncan Edwards, I get the following error.
“This video contains content from WMG, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds.”
mufcmyreligion
Enjoy, there is a lot of good stuff on Duncan and the Babes……….
Right, I wont post or read this thread anymore, its becoming a best ever United 11.
I have paid my tributes
Whoever watched him in action before, have got priceless memories that we can only read and dream of. Till his reincarnation comes along United’s way, to fulfill the 10-15 years he never got a chance to.
Crying reading it. Rip babes rip duncan. Red army
This silenced my joyful mood. It deeply saddens me the world did not see the life and career of Duncan Edwards. The worst thing is that his life was ended so young, a career that just began, a life not even half lived. Those that knew and loved him must have been through hell when he passed away, the man seems like a fighter till his dying breath.
Legend doesn’t fit the frame, an Immortal is suitable, he left the world while setting it alight with his brilliance. I am ever so grateful that his story,life and ability is shared around among fans.
R.I.P Busby Babes, without them, all we have now at Manchester United would not be possible.
@Cedars: Not sure if you read the whole article, but people are putting in best XIs to learn more about United through the free ebook that’s on offer, and from which the article has been excerpted.
Respect for, and thoughts of the Busby Babes, will live through the generations of all that is United. Fans, staff, and players. Things like results, number of titles won, finances, pale into insignificance. That loss is something that no one ever associated with United should forget, because in many ways, least of all the manner in which we dealt with our loss over the years, continue to define our values.
RIP Busby Babes. You will never die.
LEGENDS one and all, The flowers of Manchester, RIP.
Excellent article and a great insight about edwards for fans who do not know much or have not seen him play.
With real madrid’s dominance of european football, sometimes i wonder if the busby babes would have matched that or even surpassed those trophy haul. A great article indeed.
Big Dunc the greatest player i will never get the chance to see but the greatest player i have the chance to learn about the legend is alive in the mind – excellent article.
Cedars
Robson and Keane in a bigger body! WOW! He must have been special. Sorry that I never got to see the great man play. Get stuck in lads!
I was 3 years old when this tragedy happened…….
God Bless lads…..
My Hero
I’m already in an emotional state researching the man, the further I learn about him the further the heart breaks, to know that he died from his injuries in Munich is sometimes hard to comprehend.
But he died, and left a legacy however short it was for us to cherish – that is hard too to comprehend but like I said before I will repeat again:
Wherever you are Duncan Edwards, I hope that you are in peace and that the time that was not given to you here, you spent it better with your sister.
But for everything that you gave to us, to this shirt, to this world, we thank you for being a part of Manchester United.
One day maybe I’ll finally get my chance to tell your story…
Until then I cannot say no more to you than I say to everyone else.
For Duncan Edwards. For The Busby Babes.
19
I have always loved reading most of the things you post. But this one is special.
I can only wonder how good the kid would have been. Thanks for the article .
I am not really that emotional, but this made me. I am really happy to see that after so many years United still cherishes his memory and keeps it alive.
Wish i was born in 1950.
A day of memory
Sad to recall
Without farewell
He left us all…….
Written on his stone
RIP big sync you are the greatest sportsmen of all
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aIbmSFVcw4
Liked this tribute from Sky Sports. RIP Big Dunc and the the rest of the Babes. We’ll never die!
Imagine best,charlton,law n edwards.the greatest team ever by a million miles….had things been different there would have been a quartet outside old trafford where the holy trinity now stand:(
These are what united is made of… can’t forget all the blood and lives given by our favourite lovable players towards the making of this great great club in the history of football…love you all and will be remembered till i die… GGMU…
Incredible read … …hopefully we can produce a player with at least half of his talent in the future.
my best XI
Schmeichel
D.EDWARDS Ferdinand ( in his youth when he was quite fast )
Keane
Ronaldo Scholes Giggs
Best Charlton Rooney
R. v. Nistelroy
With the speed of my defence plus the steel of keane …. my defense is impenetrable .
And that attack ain’t too shabby either
Brings a tear to the eye, my granddad was a massive fan and used to tell me all his stories of The Busby Babes when I was just 6 years old!
Born in 1987, my best XI will consist only of players that I’ve seen live:
Schmichael
Neville Stam Vidic Irwin
Scholes Keane Giggs
Cantona
C.Ronaldo van Nistelrooy
RIP
Great article, and some lovely responses.
At the time of Munich, England were favourites to win the WC played in the summer of 1958 in Sweden.
It was always said of DE that he was a future England captain and would probably have been captain in 1966.
Whilst he was a huge loss to UTD, he was a far bigger loss to England.
To underline UTD’s club strength at that time, Wilf McGuiness, DE’s understudy at OT, played for England in DE’s position 10 months after Munich.
just reading and watching what little we have of him in the newsreels, inspires awe. bryan robson and robbie keane combined, yet bigger. That’s a scary scary thought indeed. What a legend.
RIP Duncan Edwards, we will never forget.
heartbreaking story………brings tears 2 one’s eyes…………v surely miss u a lot…….may ur soul rest in peace……da greatest player of all time………AMEN!!!!
One of the best articles I have ever read on RoM. Beautifully written and very emotional. I do envy those people who were lucky enough to see him play.
At 22 years of age myself now its is hard to comprehend how good this guy was the accolades from other players is always for me how you can tell a world class player from a good one the way Charlton talks about him sends tingles down my spine on the 6th every year I sit and talk with my old man and the conversation always ends up with my dad trying to group 3 4 maybe even 5 players together to try and create the attributes that the man had,
My dads last comment on Duncan was ‘Greg you know that stupid FIFA game you play on what is that Messi kid rated’ so i told him 91/100 he just laughed and said well Edwards would have been 110
So Sad,may her soul rest in perfect peace.my best xi is C Ronado
RIP Duncan Edwards & busby babes.
My best United IX:
Schmeichel
GNev – Pallister – Bruce – Irwin
CR7 – Scholes – Keane(C) – Giggsy
Cantona
Yorkie
Subs: DDG, Vidic, Rooney, Evra, Kanchelskis
Sounds 90′s? Yep, falling in love with the club circa 1991 and never turn my heart ever since.
Come on you reds!
Always wish I had seen him play. R I P..Dancun Edwards, forever in our hearts.
Schmeichel
Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Edwards
Charlton, Scholes, Keane, Giggs
Best
Ronaldo
Bawling like a baby reading this.
Saw him as very young boy – but do not remember anything.
Recall the whole street were out in tears when his death was announced – United and City . My Dad said exactly what Sir Bobby said – left foot / right foot / immaculate passer of the ball / strong /fearless – nobody could touch him.
Will get the book.
The Flowers of Manchester – God how I would have loved to have seen them and been able to appreciate them.
United for ever!
UNITED 20 – 2012
To fit in as many greats as possible into United;s best XI, I would suggest using the old 2-3-5 formation implemented by the Reds from 1885 to the mid-60s. The line-up would be:
Schmeichel; Carey, Byrne; Robson, Roberts, Edwards; Best, Law, Van Nistelrooy, Charlton, Ronaldo.
Subs: Stam, Giggs and Taylor.
De Gea – Neville Bruce Byrne Edwards – Best Law Keane Beckham – Cantona Rooney
Schmeichel – Neville Stam Ferdinand Edwards – Beckham Charlton Keane Giggs – Ronaldo Rooney
great read that.
robbo and keane cobined but in a bigger body? fuck me thats scary!!
sush a shame and such a loss.
RIP Duncan and all the babes!!
Salute to d greatest player dat ever lived! RIP Edwards