The Treble winner is only our fifth former player or manager to receive the prestigious honour, following in the footsteps of three club icons and one ex-Red you might not know about.
Sir Matt Busby was given the ultimate UK honour in June 1969, a year after he’d made United the first English side to win the European Cup by beating Benfica at Wembley Stadium, courtesy of goals from homegrown heroes Bobby Charlton (two), George Best and Brian Kidd.
That emotional success was 10 years after the Munich Air Disaster which killed 23 people, including eight players, and injured many others, including Busby and Charlton. Sir Matt’s ability to rebuild in such horrific circumstances defined the club’s DNA and continues to inspire us all.
