Manchester United players past and present have paid tribute to the 23 people, including eight squad members, who lost their lives in the Munich Air Disaster on February 6, 1958.
Sir Matt Busby’s team were returning to Manchester after eliminating Red Star Belgrade to reach the European Cup semi-final, stopping in Munich to refuel the plane.
After two failed take-off attempts, a decision was taken to proceed with the flight, despite snow starting to fall heavily on the runway. The plane failed to properly take off and crashed into a fence. 20 passengers died on board, and three – including Duncan Edwards – passed away in hospital.
The event shocked world football and destroyed the nucleus of what promised to be one of the greatest generations of footballers ever produced by English football. 61 years on, players poured in with tributes to those who tragically lost their lives that day.
When you are a true @ManUtd fan or player you know what time it is … never forget. #BusbyBabes #FlowersOfManchester #ManUtd #history pic.twitter.com/ovTAZiEIzc
— Patrice Evra (@Evra) February 6, 2019
https://twitter.com/GNev2/status/1092989060434575360
We loved you then, we love you now. R.I.P ???????????? pic.twitter.com/dDz9C75GXo
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) February 6, 2019
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Paying our respects on the 61st anniversary of the Munich air disaster. pic.twitter.com/AJ7zwKB7Nj
— Manchester City (@ManCity) February 6, 2019
Always in our hearts ❤️ never forget the #FlowersOfManchester pic.twitter.com/x8out4DIgJ
— Jesse Lingard (@JesseLingard) February 6, 2019
61 years on, @ManUtd remembers! ❤️???????? #FlowersOfManchester pic.twitter.com/u7pDM5GnhP
— Diogo Dalot (@DalotDiogo) February 6, 2019
Never forgotten ???????? https://t.co/9ZrI84hZtm
— Wayne Rooney (@WayneRooney) February 6, 2019
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— Timothy fosu-mensah (@tfosumensah) February 6, 2019
— DJ Buffonge (@DJBuffonge_) February 6, 2019
When I was lucky enough to join United, no one ever spoke about the tragedy, we just had a sense of playing for the boss, for Bobby and Bill who stayed in the team. In 68 we lifted the European Cup and that night was for them and the United family who will never be forgotten pic.twitter.com/10IDZVxu5U
— Alex Stepney (@AlexStepney1) February 5, 2019