Commemoration of Munich Air Disaster
Fri | 22/09/23 | 12:30
FC Bayern and Manchester United side by side
With Manchester United in town for the Champions League match against Bayern at the Allianz Arena, both clubs commemorated the victims of the 1958 Munich Air Disaster in which eight of the English club’s players and others lost their lives. Before heading home, a British delegation visited the memorial. Representatives of the club's management, coach Erik ten Hag, formerly a youth coach at FC Bayern, striker Rasmus Hojlund, legend Bryan Robson and numerous fans of both clubs laid wreaths and flowers. Long-time captain and World Cup winner Raimond Aumann was present for the German record champions.
On 6 February 1958, a total of 23 people died in the plane crash in the Trudering district of Munich. The Manchester United team was on its way home after reaching the semi-finals of the European Cup when the accident occurred on the snow-covered tarmac of what was then Riem Airport. The team at the time had been dubbed the "Busby Babes". Their legendary coach Matt Busby and midfield star Bobby Charlton survived seriously injured.
Manchester United representatives laid a wreath in memory of the victims of the air disaster.
At the suggestion of the late city councillor and member of the Bavarian state parliament Hermann Memmel, the city of Munich renamed the site of the accident Manchesterplatz a few years ago and erected a memorial stone with the names of the victims as well as a display case there. It has become a place of pilgrimage not only for Manchester United supporters but for football fans from all over the world. The FC Bayern fan club ‘Red Docs Munich’ has been taking care of the memorial for years. This February was the 65th anniversary of the accident. More than 2,000 fans gathered for the memorial service, and president Herbert Hainer said in his speech: "Football builds bridges, especially in its darkest hours. The disaster 65 years ago robbed this great club Manchester United of some successful chapters in its history. It is comforting to see that we have also been blessed: 65 years side by side - that is a message that is sent out from this place. We should all be grateful for that."
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