Munich/Man U: The Fiftieth Anniversary

By Spencer Hall
Long before they became the unofficial soccer team of the solar system, Manchester United was known more for tragedy than their international market value. Today marks the 50th anniversary of the crash of British European Airways Flight 609, the flight carrying Man U from a match in Belgrade that crashed on their third take-off attempt from Munich on Feb. 5, 1958.
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Twenty-three passengers died in the accident, including eight members of the Man U team. Known as the “Busby Babes,” the team was coming off two league championships in a row and fighting for a chance at a third before the accident. The BBC has a very British and very interesting piece on what the accident meant for British soccer here.
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