ROGER BYRNE

Roger Byrne was the great captain of the legendary Busby Babes. An inspirational and charismatic leader he was a key element in making United the team of the mid 1950's.

Byrne nearly didn't become a footballer having played Rugby Union for a time, but eventually he was spotted and joined United's youth team at the comparatively late age of 20. Matt Busby recognised a quality in him that could be developed but at first it was not sure which position he would play. Versatile Bryne played as winger, wing-half and left-back. In 1951 he made his debut against Liverpool and continued to put in fine performances.

United and Byrne went on to win the League title in 1952 with Byrne on the wing but when Busby forced him to play on the wing permanently in 1952 Bryne was unhappy and asked for a transfer. Busby backed down and quickly made Bryne a left back, a position he would make his own.

He was one of the new generation brought in by Busby, fast, strong and always in control, often using his speed to allow him to come up the wings and participate in attacks. As left back Roger Byrne was rock solid, hard working, powerful, skilful, efficient - a player who refused to be beaten. Even the great wingers of the day, Stanley Matthews and Tom Finney rarely, if ever, got the better of him.

He was cool and confident with excellent awareness and positional skills. Not the most naturally gifted of players he made up for it by putting in long hours of training and study therefore making sure he was never caught out. A truly great footballer's talents are as much mental as physical and anticipation was Roger Byrne's great strength - he could always detect danger.

He was intelligent and a stubborn non-conformist, never afraid to voice his opinion even if it meant defying manager Busby - however there was great mutual respect between the two. He took over as club captain from Johnny Carey in 1954 when Carey retired and although only slightly older than the rest of the "Babes" they all looked up to him as a father figure. Playing the best football of his career he led United to the League title in 1956 and again in 1957 when he also led the team in the unlucky FA Cup Final defeat to Aston Villa. Byrne played for England 33 times consecutively and would surely have captained them in the 1958 World Cup alongside fellow United stars Duncan Edwards and Tommy Taylor - but it wasn't to be.

In 1958 United's Busby Babes were at the height of their power at home and abroad when the cruel hand of fate robbed the world of the team's great talents. Byrne was amongst those tragically killed in the crash at Munich in 1958, it was only two days before his 29th birthday. There can be few who would argue that despite being limited to a professional career of only 6 years, Roger Byrne was one of the all-time great United captains. Sadly robbed of life at the peak of his career, his place alongside fellow United legends is secure.