Manchester United Legends : Denis Law

Denis Law, simply put, was widely ackowledged to be the most ‘entertaining’ United player ever before the arrival of Eric Cantona. He was a player all the fans loved because he gave absolutely everything when on the pitch. This fierce Scotsman fought for everything and was afraid of nobody, few players could match his competitive instincts.

Of only medium height and slim in build, Law had a lions heart and a salmons leap. Always playing with his long shirt sleeves distinctively gripped in each fist, he could frequently out-jump much taller men to score with his head. Denis could score from anywhere and close in he was lethal. If the keeper fumbled he pounced and within seconds the Law-man was wheeling off, arm up in celebration.

Law’s most important abilities were awareness and anticipation. He always seemed to see the action slightly ahead of everyone else and with his superb reflexes he knew how to use that to deadly advantage. He started his footballing career with Huddersfield town in 1956. After an unhappy time in Italy with Torino he joined United with a new British record transfer fee of £115,000 in August 1962. He scored two goals on his debut in 1962 and after scoring in United’s FA Cup Final win of 1963, a stream of goals followed. 160 of them in only 222 games over his first five seasons. Many of them were outrageous, some seemingly impossible, but everything was done with a confident arrogant style the fans found irresistible.

Law won the European Footballer of the Year award in 1964 and captained the team on several occasions. He helped United win the league twice, 1965 and 1967, forming the legendary trio of Best, Law and Charlton. On the International scene he was a regular
up front with Scotland. Law played in many a clash with England, most famously when they beat the then World Champions 3-2 at Wembley in 1967.

He played for Scotland a total of 55 times and olds the joint Scottish international goal scoring record with 30 goals longside Kenny Dalglish. Sadly, such was his fierce competitiveness Law was sometimes injured, no more costly than when he missed the 1968 European Cup triumph because of a knee injury.

Controversially, in 1973 he was given a free transfer by Tommy Docherty but had more good times with Manchester City and Scotland. In an infamous incident at Old Trafford 1974 with United deep in trouble at the foot of the league and playing City, Law in the 85th minute half-heartedly back-heeled the ball into United’s net. It won the game for City 1-0 and United were consequently relegated.

The devastation on Law’s face after the goal showed the bond he still had with his old club. In fact, it was his last ever kick in League football as he was so downcast he retired straight after the game. The fact the United fans never blamed him for it showed their great affection and respect for him also. His career in football ended after playing for Scotland in the 1974 World Cup. Since then he has been involved in media work and working currently for BBC Radio 5, Sky and MUTV.

Denis Law will always be remembered as a great, a player to set the passions and imagination of every fan on fire. The ultimate United goal-scorer, the first and some
may still maintain, King of Old Trafford.

Denis Law, Manchester United, Manchester United Legends Related Posts:
Manchester United Downloads
You Could Play For Manchester United… Well, Almost!
Manchester United Everything!
Manchester United Legends : Duncan Edwards
Manchester United Legends : Sir Matt Busby
The Top 10 Manchester United Scorers

Manchester United Legends : Bill Foulkes

A huge, strong, centre-half, Bill Foulkes was a Busby Babe, who survived Munich and played top flight football for nearly twenty years. Foulkes joined Manchester United as an amateur in March 1950, later turning professional in August 1951. In his early days Foulkes combined playing football with work at a coal mine, feeling that he was not good enough to make the grade.

Only when called up to the England team was he convinced to give up his job at the colliery. He made his debut for United half way through the 1952-53 season as right full-back, but later moved to his favoured position of centre-half. Foulkes was United’s wall of steel, who might well have been hewn out of solid rock from the coal-fields he worked in. He enjoyed the physical side of football, being powerful in the air and competent on the floor.

As one of the survivors of the Munich air crash, Foulkes took over as captain of a depleted United team. He led them miraculously to the FA Cup Final at Wembley in 1958 where sadly United lost out to Bolton 2-0. In a distinguished career at Old Trafford, Foulkes won four League Championship medals in 1956, 1957, 1965 and 1967.

The big defender also played three FA Cup Finals in 1957, 1958 and 1963, collecting a winners’ medal after the 3-1 over Leicester in 1963. To crown his career he won a European Cup winners’ medal in 1968 in that famous Benifca victory. In addition to this he was capped by England at under-23 levels, but his solitary full England cap was poor reward for a player of his obvious calibre.

As a player he was an extremely dedicated fitness fanatic who made the best use out of his strong muscular build. In his earlier days it was claimed that he could have made a name for himself in rugby league had he not chosen to take up football. Upon winning the European Cup in 1968, Foulkes wanted to retire as he felt he had achieve all he could, however Sir Matt Busby persuaded him to stay on for another 2 years. After retiring from playing in 1970, Foulkes was appointed youth team coach at Manchester United. Following this he took up various coaching appointments abroad, including spells in the USA, Norway and Japan, before returning back to England in 1992.

However, although he was a defender, Foulkes is often remembered for the goals he scored. None more so than the 1968 European Cup semi-final when he scored against Real Madrid in the Bernabeau, which put United into the Final. When he finally left Old Trafford in 1970 he had made a total of 679 first team appearances, plus 3 as substitute. In seasons 1957-58, 1959-60, 1963-64 and 1964-65 he started in every single game the club played that year. Only Bobby Charlton has made more senior appearances for Manchester United and it is extremely unlikely Bill Foulkes total will be bettered either.

Bill Foulkes, Manchester United, Manchester United Legends Related Posts:
Player Statistics For The Mighty Reds
Manchester United Downloads
Manchester United Legends - George Best
Manchester United Everything!
Giggs nears Appearances Landmark
Manchester United Legends : Duncan Edwards

Classic Man Utd Desktop Wallpaper

Time to bring you lads and lasses some more desktop wallpaper about United. This week, I will be focussing on ‘classic’ Man Utd. wallpapers for you lot. So without further ado, let’s start! Btw, all these walls are brought to you courtesy of 10thHussar.co.uk.

First off is a great individual wallpaper of Sir Bobby Charlton.

Next up is the great George Best.

Moving on, is the great Duncan Edwards who we sadly lost in the Munich Air disaster.

Last but not the least, are the great Busby Babes.

I don’t feel like describing them much but they’re all great wallpapers and there’s a decent collection for you lot over at 10thHussar.co.uk. You should check it out for some other great United wallpaper. Till the next time … enjoy!

Bobby Charlton, Busby Babes, Duncan Edwards, George Best, Manchester United, Manchester United Desktop Wallpaper, Manchester United Legends Related Posts:
Manchester United Desktop Wallpaper
Cristiano Ronaldo Desktop Wallpaper
Manchester United Desktop Wallpaper
Manchester United Logo Wallpaper
More Manchester United Desktop Wallpaper
Manchester United Desktop Wallpaper

Manchester United Legends : Sir Bobby Charlton

Sir Bobby Charlton is without doubt one of the most famous English players of all time. His name is synonymous with some of the greatest moments in the English game. A long-time server of Manchester United, Charlton was known for his extraordinary bursts through midfield and a thunderous shot.

Born in Ashington, Northumberland, the Charlton family had football in its blood. Three of his uncles played for Leeds United and his mother’s cousin was the Newcastle United legend, Jackie Milburn. In 1953 he was signed by Manchester United aged just 17 and would go on to spend the next 17 years at Old Trafford.

As one of the “Busby Babes” to survive the Munich Air Disaster he was in the great United side of the 1950s alongside Duncan Edwards, Roger Byrne and Tommy Taylor, as well as the team of the 1960s featuring Denis Law and George Best that produced some of United’s greatest ever football.

Initially a striker, he switched to outside-left with England and finally became a deep-lying centre forward renowned for his powerful shooting. To say that Bobby Charlton could hit a ball is the understatement of the century. Some of his famous long-range torpedoes have gone down as all time classic goals for both England and United.

In the 1966 World Cup he fired in two long range belters that sunk Portugal in England’s 2-1 win in the semi-final. While his 106 caps were eventually surpassed his total of 49 goals for England still remains a record to this day and is unlikely ever to be topped.

Alongside his pulverising shot, he had an ability for accurate long range passing, was excellent in the air and had a devastating body swerve. The man with the famous comb-over hairstyle had the game of football running through his veins, a natural born footballer. Before Munich, he played up front but in his first full season found it hard to get in the team whilst up against talents like Taylor and Viollet.

After 1958 he continued as a centre-forward, however in the early 1960’s Matt Busby switched Bobby to left-wing were he was devastating. Then in the mid 60’s he took on the role of a a deep-lying play-maker. It was the position he became most known for and really highlighted his skills to the full. Charlton has the unique record of scoring on his debuts for England schoolboys, United’s first team (twice vs Charlton Athletic) and the full international team (vs Scotland).

The Sixties saw a glorious era when British football was in awe of Charlton, Law and Best, three world class players who together helped make Manchester United an integral part of popular culture in that decade. Bobby scored 199 goals in 606 League games for United and was a vital element in the club winning the 1st Division Championship in 1957, 1965 and 1967.

There was also the FA Cup in 1963 and famously the European Cup in 1968, in which he scored twice to sink Benfica at Wembley. The first goal was unusual for him with as it came from a header, the second - a sublime shot for a tight angle, sealed a 4-1 win and an emotional victory for the man who survived Munich. In contrast to the quiet Bobby, his footballing brother and captain of Leeds United, Jack, was an outgoing larger-than-life personality. The disaster at Munich and death of his team mates affected Bobby deeply. He became a more serious and subdued person after the tragedy and may well have suffered “survivors guilt”.

The Charlton brother’s greatest moment was in the 1966 World Cup when centre-half Jack played alongside Bobby all the way to the victorious Final. 66 was a great year for Bobby as he won both European and PFA Player of the Year awards for playing a pivotal role in that World Cup campaign that saw him score three times. His total of 106 caps (1958-1970) was an England record until passed by Bobby Moore in 1973.

Having finished his career with United in 1973 he became manager of Preston North End, but unlike his brother, introvert Bobby was not suited to management and resigned after the club were relegated in 1975. He later worked as director of Wigan Athletic, and in 1984 was appointed as a director of Manchester United. Bobby was awarded a CBE in 1974 and a knighthood in 1994.

Today he works as an ambassador for football in his role as a director at United. A true role model for any aspiring footballer, a modest man of great integrity, Bobby Charlton is respected throughout the world as one of England’s greatest ever sportsmen and a Manchester United legend.

Manchester United, Manchester United Legends, Sir Bobby Charlton Related Posts:
Giggs Inches Closer To Charlton Record
Manchester United Legends : Duncan Edwards
Giggs nears Appearances Landmark
Man U Monopoly!
Player Statistics For The Mighty Reds
Ronaldo Causing More Trouble

Manchester United Legends - George Best

Born: 22 May 1946 in Belfast.

Nickname: El Beatle.

Position: Left wing, right wing.

It is unlikely that any player in the history of the game has ever garnered as much attention, opprobrium and adulation as George Best. For the past 40 years he has enthralled the British public as much through his hell-raising off the pitch as his genius on it. However, despite the controversy that has often followed Best there are few that could deny he is among the most talented figures to ever kick a ball.

Best was born on May 22nd 1946 in Belfast and it was not long before his prodigious footballing abilities began to surface. In 1961 he arrived in Manchester, a skinny teenager, seeking footballing fame with a Manchester United side still struggling to cope with the aftermath of the Munich air disaster which had ripped the heart out of the club and killed so many of its leading players. Despite his early homesickness Best stuck it out at United, and made his debut in a league match against West Bromwich Albion in 1963. The following year Best really started to make his mark and was called up to the Northern Ireland squad for whom he made his debut in a game against Wales at Swansea.

In 1965 Manchester United were crowned English champions and the following season entered the European Cup with much expected of the young Best. He was not to disappoint. In the quarter final Manchester United faced Benfica, the side that had so far dominated the decade and still including such talents as Eusebio and Coluna. United annihilated Benfica 8-3 on aggregate, with Best in astonishing form at the Luz. Best had already been given the title of the “5th Beatle” as reference to his film star looks and crowd pleasing abilities. When he stepped off the plane returning from Lisbon that nickname changed to “El Beatle”, as he was christened by the Iberian media. Despite United being eliminated by Partizan Belgrade in the semis Best was truly starting to be noticed throughout Europe for his mesmeric dribbling skills and his superb touch with both feet.

In 1967 United repeated their league success, and went into the 1968 European Cup hoping to match Celtic’s performances of the year before that had seen them become the first British European Champions. United’s trip to the final provided some superb matches, but none could equal a thrilling Wembley final. Who better for Best to face than Benfica, the team that he had destroyed almost single-handedly two years earlier? In a tight game Bobby Charlton put United ahead before Graca levelled with just 9 minutes remaining. With just seconds left the great Eusebio spurned a golden opportunity to win the game for Benfica and the game went to extra-time. It was to be a costly miss, as early in extra-time Best ghosted past two defenders to put United ahead before Kidd and Charlton added further goals against a demoralised Benfica side. It was a fitting end to a great season for Best, he had been top scorer in the league and was later crowned European Player of the Year following his team-mates Denis Law and Bobby Charlton.

Later in the year though Best was to witness the other side of the “Beautiful Game” as United faced Estudiantes of Argentina in the World Club Cup. Although these games were supposed to be a showcase occasion for the sport, little was done to enrich the reputation of either team. The tone was set for the fist match in Buenos Aires by Nobby Stiles the combative United midfielder being described in the programme notes as “brutal, badly intentioned and a bad sportsman”. Given the ignominious exit of Argentina at the WC in England 2 years earlier it was no surprise that the game would be more than little heated. While many United players were kicked from pillar to post, most notably Stiles, Best was showered with missiles thrown by the home fans. United lost the game 1-0 but the score line was largely immaterial. In the return leg Best was dismissed for fighting in another bruising brutal encounter that eventually ended 1-1.

The winning of the European Cup marked a major change at United in Best’s eyes. “For Matt (Busby) and Bobby Charlton, for Bill Foulkes, for Denis Law … they’d done it. And they sat back and you could almost hear the energy and ambition sighing out of the club. It was like being in at the winding up of a company”, Best later said.

In 1969 Busby retired and returned but his presence haunted the club and only served to undermine future managers as the club desperately sought to maintain the hegemony of the English and European game. Best though while troubled by the off field antics could still turn on the style when needed. In 1970 United played Northampton Town in the FA Cup fifth round, and Best scored 6 as United won 8-2.

In the 1971-2 season United started the well and at one point led the league by a massive 8 points, but their form fell away as they finished a disappointing 8th.

The following years saw Best increasingly lose his passion for both United and football, and in 1973-4 he left the club aged just 27. He was subsequently banned by FIFA until he joined Stockport County and the ban was lifted in 1975. He later joined a succession of clubs including Fulham, for whom he scored after 71 seconds of his debut.

The years after the European Cup victory saw Best increasingly live his life more like a rock star than a footballer and his game was the victim. Best’s career after football was no less eventful than his playing days, but it was somewhat less admirable. In 1984 Best was jailed for 12 weeks for drink driving, assaulting a policeman and failing to answer bail.

Best’s cavalier attitude to the game and reputation as one of the 20th century’s greatest playboys has been cemented by a number of now infamous quotes. Choice among them were “They said I had 5 Miss Worlds but it was only 3” and “I spent most of my money on birds, booze and fast cars, the rest I just squandered”. However, while these have endeared him to so many fans over the years, few would deny that they also represent the incredible talent Best, to some extent, squandered. When he won his European Cup Best was just 22 and had the whole world at his feet, he had the opportunity to prove that he was the game’s finest ever exponent as so many in Britain believe. Instead Best’s career had already fallen apart before he had even reached the age at which most players peak. While there is no denying the incredible performances that Best produced in his pomp, there will always be a sense of what might have been.

The great man finally gave up on October 25th, 2005; as his treatment was stopped and he eventually died.

George Best, Manchester United, Manchester United Legends Related Posts:
Old School Man Utd Shirts
Manchester United Downloads
Man U Monopoly!
Manchester United Everything!
You Could Play For Manchester United… Well, Almost!
All The United Kits…