A statue is to be erected in Old Trafford in honor of Sir Matt Busby’s legendary former assistant.
Jimmy Murphy spent 25 years at Manchester United helping the club out of the dark days following the Munich air disaster.
Murphy, who was both the Wales manager and Sir Matt’s assistant, was not on the plane at the time of the crash in February 1958 as Wales was playing a World Cup qualifier.
He was hired to run the club as Sir Matt was hospitalized seriously ill and ran the team in the manager’s absence.
And Murphy stayed by his side as United rebuilt and secured European fame 10 years later at Wembley.
Now, after a campaign by fan groups, Murphy, who died in 1989, will be remembered with a statue in front of the Theater of Dreams.
The announcement followed a meeting with senior United officials, fan groups and a representative from the Murphy family.
United said a consultation will be held to determine where the statue will be erected.
It will be the newest off-site monument honoring big names in the club’s history, combining statues of Sir Matt Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson and the Holy Trinity statue of Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law.
Jimmy Murphy with Bobby Charlton (left) and Ernie Taylor (right)
Pat Burns, Chairman of the Manchester Munich Memorial Foundation, said: “Jimmy Murphy’s family are overjoyed with this result and as Reds we should all be delighted that Jimmy is finally getting the recognition he deserves in his spiritual home.”
“On behalf of the coalition and family, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to everyone at Manchester United for agreeing to make this happen.”
Previously, United’s Young Player of the Year award was named in honor of Murphy, and a building on the club’s Carrington training ground is also named after him.
Collette Roche, Manchester United’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “As a club, we will always be indebted to Jimmy for the crucial role he played in the aftermath of the Munich air disaster.
“He was an indispensable ally of Sir Matt from the prime of the Busby Babes to our first European Cup win in 1968 and beyond.
“We look forward to working with fan groups to arrange an appropriate tribute to Jimmy off the premises that was his second home.”
