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 and 6 in other games (Charity Shield and World Club championship). 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.
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 and 6 in other games (Charity Shield and World Club championship). 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.
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