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Sammy McIlroy experienced one of the most memorable careers in
football. After all, who else can say they played with George Best,
Denis Law and Bobby Charlton, experienced relegation, won trophies
and played under six different managers at Manchester United? With
more than 400 appearances, McIlroy - the last player signed by the
legendary Sir Matt Busby - is a bona fide Old Trafford legend, and
is an intrinsic part of the fabric of its illustrious history. One
of the few footballers to have played in two international
tournaments for Northern Ireland (and been captain in one), 'Super'
Sam went on to manage his country after a successful spell in
charge of Macclesfield Town. He tells his extraordinary story with
remarkable candour and emotion, pulling no punches. From the
anxiety of his homesickness to the exhilaration of his club debut,
from the lows of his heartbreaking exit from United to the highs of
leading his country out in a World Cup, The Last Busby Babe finally
puts on record one of the greatest careers in football history.
In the 1980s Manchester United was the footballing byword for
underachievement. The club had struggled to rediscover its identity
after the shock dismissal of Tommy Docherty in 1977 and a four-year
spell under Dave Sexton, a highly respected coach but the polar
opposite of his predecessor. Ron Atkinson brought the thrills back
to Old Trafford and won two FA Cups before being dismissed in
November 1986. 'Big Ron' was the latest in a long line of managers
who tried but failed to win the prize United wanted most - the
First Division championship. Yet contrary to his reputation for
glorious failure, Que Sera, Sera reveals how Atkinson's footballing
ideals made him the perfect man to lead the biggest club in the
country. Drawing on meticulous research and exclusive interviews,
Wayne Barton shines a guiding light on a greatly neglected period
of Manchester United history that was filled with big characters
and big controversy. Here, for the first time, are the unbridled
views of the players, chairman Martin Edwards and 'Big Ron'
himself.
In 2013, when legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson announced his
retirement, Manchester United seemed the dream job for any football
manager. Champions of England, the biggest and most profitable club
in the world. What could possibly go wrong for his successor, who
would be appointed with the clear intention of continuing the
club's rich tradition? Redprint explores, in forensic detail, the
six turbulent years at Old Trafford since Ferguson walked away.
Despite record levels of expenditure, a succession of different
managers with different philosophies and concerns about the
changing identity of the club, United continued to compel
throughout this period of underachievement. Wayne Barton examines
each of the managerial reigns since 2013 and discusses their
successes and failures in a historical and contemporary context to
ask the question - are Manchester United closer to regaining their
glory, or are they simply repeating mistakes of years gone by?
NEVER in the history of the game has one life brought both joy and
tragedy in such huge measures. Duncan Edwards was the jewel in the
crown of the Busby Babes, an all-time legend at just 21, who was
denied the chance to achieve even greater footballing success by
the Munich Air Disaster in 1958. This fascinating new biography,
with support from friends and relatives, includes rare and unseen
pictures and tells the story of the boy who left his home in Dudley
to earn his Manchester United debut at the age of 16 – and made
such an impression that he was an England international at 18. The
most forensic account of this remarkable life and career includes
new interviews, as well as contributions from icons of United and
the wider English game – plus quotes from Edwards himself. He
packed so much into a short career, collecting 18 caps, winning the
First Division title twice, and helping Matt Busby’s team take
their first steps in European football, but it was an all-round
game that had no weakness that impressed most. Team-mate Bobby
Charlton summed Edwards up best: “Sentiment can throw a man’s
judgement out of perspective. Yet it is not the case with him. A
few are great, and deserve respect. But Duncan Edwards was the
greatest.” ‘Eternal’ is the complete story of an
extraordinary footballer, whose influence on Manchester United and
the success that followed can still be felt today.
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