Duncan Edwards - Englands greatest player then came munich

Narrated by Nick Owen this documentary tells the story about Duncan Edwards, the talented footballer who lost his life when Manchester United's aeroplane crashed after failing to take off from Munich airport.

Don Revie OBE, Leeds United and England Manager:
You don't hear many professionals talk lightly of greatness because it is so rare, but that is what I saw in Duncan Edwards the first time I set eyes on him. He reached the same fabulous standard at left-half, centre-half, inside-left and centre-forward. He is the kind of player managers dream about.

Sir Walter Winterbottom, England Manager:
Duncan Edwards was the spirit of British Football.

Sir Bobby Robson CBE, England Player and Manager:
His size surprised me. He was a colossus in fact, very strong and powerful. He tackled beautifully and had perfect timing. I considered him to be the finest young player in England at that time. Surely he would have gone on to be one of the greatest players the world has ever seen.

Sir Bobby Charlton, Manchester United and England:
I've never know anybody so gifted and strong and powerful with the presence that he had. The best player I ever played with or against.

Sir Matt Busby, Manchester United Manager:
If ever there was a player that could be called a one-man team, that man was Duncan Edwards... He has always remained to me incomparable. Off the field, Duncan did not want to know about the high life. He just wanted to train, play or go back to his digs or home to Dudley. He lived for his football. Maybe some of that would have rubbed off on George [Best] if Duncan had survived Munich. I suppose in their own ways, they both died young, didn't they?

Jimmy Murphy, Wales Manager, Manchester United Assistant Manager:
When I used to hear Muhammad Ali proclaim to the world that he was the greatest, I would always smile. The greatest of them all was a footballer named Duncan Edwards

Terry Venables, England Player and Manager:
He was my hero and an inspiration. He was potentially the greatest player I've seen. Duncan played in the same position as Bobby Moore, and we'll never know what might have happened in 1966 if he had still been around. He would have been only 29. Perhaps Bobby would have got in the team in another position, because he was a great player, too, but you would never have picked Moore in front of Edwards. Duncan had the edge everywhere, with his remarkable power, pace and strength in the air. Quite simply, Duncan Edwards had the lot.

Jimmy Armfield CBE, Blackpool and England captain:
I played with Edwards in the Army team, he was a football giant. For my generation of footballers, who knew them all really well, the crash was our Kennedy assassination moment, it captured the nation. Edwards was the best footballer in Britain at the time, a big powerful man, but more than that he was technically gifted and had a great shot - we've not had a player like him in my lifetime.

Nat Lofthouse OBE, Bolton Wanderers and England:
Even at 19, Duncan was already half the England side.

Category:

Sports

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[Fcutdlady]

my Dad saw Duncan Edwards play many times . he has told me that Edwards was the greatest player he ever saw playing for Manchester United . of course it is impossible to compare players from Edwards era to the players of today . the game is totally different . it would have been great to see how the busby babes team would have progressed had the tragic events at Munich never happened .

[thetoon99]

@Fcutdlady nice what else did he say.

[TheMatrav1972]

My grandads brother played for preston then man city at the time of the beginning of edwards career, without a shadow of a doubt he rated him with no superiors, outstanding and frighteningly powerful, this a close relative who lived thru matthews, finney, charlton, best, dalglish, pele, di stefano, maradona era, edwards was awesome, enough said, end of to these doubters!

[thetoon99]

@TheMatrav1972 nice what was his name this player and yea edwards is the best no question he just never got the chance to prove it for year and big john charles would be my pick as the number 1 player ever when you look at the whole pic talent,years in football,impact ect as john was world class as an attacker and defender he could give more than say a pele

[thetoon99]

@TheMatrav1972 i made a video of dalglish and your lucky if you ever got to meet the legend that is Tom finny threw your family member did you

[mark57153]

I heard Eric Houghton claim Billy walker was the greatest England player ever. I'll take Houghton's word for it.

This stuff about Edwards (who was obviously a well-like, decent player) is all part of Man Utd plc club branding. Let me guess: did you have to buy this video in a shop? Thought so. More cash in the bank for Man Utd.

[thetoon99]

@mark57153 in 57 edwards came 3rd in the european player of the year award to this day still the youngest to get in the top 3 i think

[thetoon99]

@mark57153 in 57 edwards came 3rd in the european player of the year award to this day still the youngest to get in the top 3 i think

[thetoon99]

seen on redcafe tom clare you posted this up thanks mate