If you have not heard the anthem U-ni-ted – U-ni-ted! chanted by 70,000 Mancunians then you've obviously never been to Old Trafford, home of Manchester United. If you've ever tried to book Manchester hotels on a Friday or Saturday night and wondered why there are no hotels in Manchester available then it's because the most famous sports team in the world has a home game.
Manchester United is one of the most famous football teams on the planet and you do not necessarily need to be a huge sports fan to have heard of them or recognize their trademark red and white strip. But how was the legend born?
Manchester United began as humble Newton Heath FC in 1878 and struggled for the best part of a decade with financial instability. But in 1902 the club found both an important investor – John Henry Davies- and also their revered, modern-day name.
After modest success during the first four decades of the century, the story of Manchester United as a footballing superpower began on October 1st 1945 when Matt Busby was appointed manager. Busby did a good job from the outset, leading United to runners-up medals in the league in 1946, 1947, 1948 and 1949 and to an FA Cup win in 1948. The best though was yet to come, albeit as a tragic cost.
Busby and United won the league in 1952, 1956 and 1957 before tragedy struck in February 1958 with the Munich Air Disaster – 23 of the 44 passengers were killed including many of Busby's exciting new team, nicknamed 'The Busby Babes'.
With emotions still raw for many years to come, Busby built a new team around survivors including Booby Charlton and won more league trophies in 1965 and 1967 before being crowned European Champions in 1968 after which Busby retired. It was this era that created the winning mentality at Manchester United and shaped the trophy-laden side we see today led by Alex Ferguson – a manager leaving a legacy every bit as important as Busby.
In fact today Manchester United is more than just a team, it's a brand. The town on Visit a weekend match and Manchester hotels will have been fully booked for weeks for color : as fans from across the globe descend on the city to watch hwy heroes. So if you're looking for Manchester hotels, it's definitely worth checking the Manchester United match programme beforehand!