One of the greatest names in soccer history who spent his playing career with Manchester City and Liverpool. Born in Lanarkshire, Scotland on the 26th of May 1909, he started his football with Manchester City as a seventeen year old. He played over two hundred league games for City including the 1933 and 1934 FA Cup finals. In October 1933 he made his only international appearance for Scotland and in March 1936 joined Liverpool for £8,000.
At the start of the Second World War when the league programme was suspended Sir Matt guested for a number of clubs playing non-competitive matches.
In 1945 he hung up his boots and was appointed United manager in June 1945. During the next five years United were runners-up in the league four times but had the consolation of a 1948 FA Cup win at Wembley. The league title was won in 1952 after a period of 41 years. This post-war side was the first of three great teams Sir Matt Busby was to build at Old Trafford. The second great team popularly known as the Busby Babes won their first championship in 1955/56 and the following season repeated the triumph.
Under Sir Matt, United became the first English side to enter the European Cup, reaching the semi-finals in March 1957. A further disappointment was to follow in May 1957 when in the final of the FA Cup, United were beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa.
A survivor of the Munich air disaster in which eight of the team were lost, Sir Matt remained at the helm and between 1958 and 1969 United won the league twice, the FA Cup once, and the coveted European Cup.
Under his management United won five league championships, two FA Cups and the European Cup. Awarded a CBE in 1958, he was made a Freeman of Manchester in 1967 and knighted in 1968.
He retired as United manager in April 1969, returning as caretaker manager in December 1970.
Sir Matt Busby above all others created the Manchester United legend and he will be remembered for his insight, integrity and more than anything else the man who set the standards for those who follow him to reach.
A fine young United player who won two England caps before breaking his leg in 1959. A member of the Busby Babes, United were loyal to him and recognising his coaching ability gave him a coaching job. The FA later appointed him as trainer of the England youth team and he was an assistant to Sir Alf Ramsey during the 1966 World Cup.
Appointed as Sir Matt's successor in April 1969 at the age of 31 he endured a dismal spell. Although he oozed confidence and maturity the reality of following a Manchester United legend proved to be too much. Under Sir Matt, United had won every trophy available but unfortunatley for McGuinness, Law, Crerand, Stiles had seen their best days and George Best was at his most problematical.
It has been said that McGuinness was too close to the players and that when he needed to wield the axe he seemed strangely intimidated. At a time when a great United side was in transition Sir Matt had moved to General Manager and after an indifferent five months from the start of the 1969/70 season the board moved in and Wilf McGuinness returned to his old coaching job.
After the departure of Wilf McGuinness in December 1970, Sir Matt Busby temporarily took the reigns again and in June 1971 United appointed the experienced 44-year old Republic of Ireland international. The board required instant success and despite spending a considerable amount of money in his eighteen months at the club, including fees of over £200,000 each for winger Ian Storey-Moore and centre-forward Ted MacDougall success still eluded the club.
The soft spoken Irishman was never able to get to grips with the worst of George Best's excesses. He befriended him, encouraged him and the dropped him. After putting Best on the transfer list he discovered that Best and Sir Matt were secretly meeting to iron out the problems. With that O'Farrell's authority was gone.
The dressing room rifts took their toll and a 5-0 thrashing at Crystal Palace ultimately sealed his fate. In December of 1972, O'Farrell was sacked with three and a half years left on his contract.
The flamboyant arrival of Tommy Doc, truly the manager of stature that United needed brought with it a security and confidence that suggested the exciting trophy winning sides would return. To say the Doc was controversial would be an understatement.
Tommy Docherty's reputation immediately endeared him to the Stretford-Enders and although United were in serious trouble when he took them over he managed to keep them in the First Division in 1972/73 only to bow to the unthinkable the following year when United were relegated to the Second Division.
In the following season United bounced back up with increased attendances and in 1975/76 they finished in third place in Division One and were beaten Cup finalists.
The following season they won the FA Cup and just when things seemed to be at their best it was revealed that Docherty was having an extra-marital affair. In a blaze of publicity the one man who looked likely to follow on from Sir Matt was sacked in July 1977.
In appointing Dave sexton it appeared as if the United board had again opted for safety. An articulate yet shy man who found it difficult to communicate with both press and players.
Despite his obvious coaching qualities his reign at Old Trafford failed to deliver any trophies and in the pressure atmosphere that was engulfing United, Sexton seemed an inevitable casuality. The highlight was an FA Cup final appearance in 1978/79 losing 3-2 to Arsenal in a dramatic match and league runners-up to Liverpool in 1979/80. After another average season in 1980/81 Sexton was dismissed in April 1981.
After the dull years of Dave Sexton, United appointed a manager with charisma and sparkle. Sexton had replaced a larger than life character in Tommy Docherty and once again United went for flamboyance.
In all of his season with the Reds, United did well. In 1981/82 United finished third in the First Division. In 1982/83 two appearances at Wembley, one of which was an FA Cup victory against Brighton fuelled speculation that United were back in a big way. In 1983/84, Big Ron, as he was fondly known to the fans, reached the semi-finals of the European Cup Winner's Cup and once again United were runners-up to Liverpool in the league. The frenetic quest for the Championship still eluded United and the fans pressure to win it was gaining momentum season by season.
In 1985 United again won the FA Cup and ten successive victories in the 1986 season put him well ahead of the pack. However their form tailed off badly and they fell by the wayside. The 1986/87 season opened disastrously and in November with the club fourth from bottom, Atkinson was sacked. Although he had spent heavily, over £8 million, he ahd recouped more than £6 million, with the sales of players, amongst whom were Ray Wilkins and Mark Hughes.
Alex Ferguson has an excellent record as a manger in both Scotland and England. He has won the European Cup winner's Cup with two clubs and has achieved every domestic honour on both sides of the border.
Ironically, Alex came within a whisker of being sacked in mid 1989/90 season but a good cup run culminating in a FA Cup Final victory against Crystal Palace in May 1990 secured his position.
More success soon followed and United won the European Cup Winner's Cup against Barcelona in 1991. There was also a second trip to Wembley for the League Cup Final against Sheffield Wednesday the result of which was a 1-0 defeat. The 1991/92 season brought more success for the trophy hungry Reds in the shape of a League Cup Final win at Wembley against Nottingham Forest. After leading the League Championship for most of that season they fell at the final hurdle and Leeds United overtook them at the death.
United finally won the League Championship in 1992/93 after a break of 26 years.
The key that opened the Premiership door was the purchase of the brilliant Frenchman Eric Cantona for just over £1 million. Ironically, Cantona came from Leeds United, champions from the previous season.
Further success has followed and a combination of flair and consistency brought further rewards last season with a third Premier title and FA Cup win.
Alex Ferguson is the one manager since Sir Matt Busby to have met the expectations of the demanding Manchester United fans.
Managerial Honours
Aberdeen
League Champions: 1980, 1984, 1985
League Cup: 1986
Scottish Cup: 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986
European Cup Winner's Cup: 1983
Manchester United
Premier League Champions: 1993, 1994, 1996
League Cup: 1992
FA Cup: 1990, 1994, 1996
European Cup Winner's Cup: 1991