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Busby Babe Bill Foulkes dies, aged 81 | Busby Babe Bill Foulkes dies, aged 81 |
(35 minutes later) | |
Former Manchester United footballer Bill Foulkes, who survived the 1958 Munich air crash, has died aged 81. | Former Manchester United footballer Bill Foulkes, who survived the 1958 Munich air crash, has died aged 81. |
Only Sir Bobby Charlton, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have played more times than the Busby Babe, who made 688 appearances for United. | Only Sir Bobby Charlton, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes have played more times than the Busby Babe, who made 688 appearances for United. |
Club executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said "he will never be forgotten" adding, "he was a giant character" in the club's post-war era. | Club executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward said "he will never be forgotten" adding, "he was a giant character" in the club's post-war era. |
St Helens-born Foulkes played for United in their 1968 European Cup win. | St Helens-born Foulkes played for United in their 1968 European Cup win. |
On 6 February 1958, the plane that was carrying the Busby Babes back from Belgrade crashed in a blizzard after re-fuelling at Munich airport. | On 6 February 1958, the plane that was carrying the Busby Babes back from Belgrade crashed in a blizzard after re-fuelling at Munich airport. |
Twenty-three people died - eight players, eight newspaper journalists and seven members of backroom staff | |
After the Munich tragedy, Foulkes took over the captaincy and became a pillar of some of United's most successful teams. | |
He was a four-time league champion, FA Cup winner and European Cup winner. | |
Mr Woodward said: "He was a very gentle man, who I was privileged to meet on several occasions, including most memorably with his team-mates at the Champions League final in Moscow, 50 years after his heroics in the Munich air crash." | Mr Woodward said: "He was a very gentle man, who I was privileged to meet on several occasions, including most memorably with his team-mates at the Champions League final in Moscow, 50 years after his heroics in the Munich air crash." |
Foulkes made his United debut against Liverpool in December 1952 and went on to score nine goals in his career. He won his only England cap in 1954. | |
He joined the club as an amateur in March 1950 and began playing professionally in August 1951 after he left his mining job at Lea Green Colliery in St Helens. | |
Manchester United centre-back Rio Ferdinand tweeted: "Sad to hear news of Bill Foulkes passing away. Great servant to the club. Thoughts are with his family." | |
Foulkes left United in June 1970 and went on to manage clubs in the US and Norway. |