Jimmy Murphy (footballer)

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James (Jimmy) Patrick Murphy (October 27, 1910, Pentre, Glamorgan - November 14, 1989, Manchester) was a football player and later a manager.

Recruited at the end of WW2, he became the long-time assistant to Matt Busby at Manchester United F.C. In that role it became his responsibility to recruit and train the young footballers who were to become the "Busby Babes", including Duncan Edwards and Bobby Charlton. Prior to this the larger teams had largely bought rather than developed their players. After the Munich air disaster of 6 February 1958, he temporarily took over as manager while Matt Busby recovered from his injuries and, having assembled a substitute team, steered United to the FA Cup final. Murphy had not been on the fatal flight because he had been away managing the Welsh team in a World Cup qualifying game.

Despite being approached to manage Brazil, Juventus and Arsenal, he remained as assistant manager at Old Trafford until 1971. It has never been clear why he was not considered to succeed Busby himself.

Murphy played for the Welsh national football team in the 1930s, and managed them at the 1958 FIFA World Cup Finals, when they reached the quarter-finals in their only appearance in a World Cup. They lost 0-1 to Brazil (the eventual winners), to a goal by the young Pele.

He died in 1989 aged 79.

He played more than 200 times for West Bromwich Albion and made an appearance in the 1935 FA Cup final. He also briefly played for Swindon Town

v • d • e Wales squad - 1958 FIFA World Cup 1 Kelsey • 2 Williams • 3 Hopkins • 4 Sullivan • 5 M. Charles • 6 Bowen • 7 Medwin • 8 Hewitt • 9 J. Charles • 10 I. Allchurch • 11 C. Jones • 12 K. Jones • 13 Vearnecombe • 14 Edwards • 15 C. Baker • 16 Crowe • 17 Leek • 18 Vernon • 19 Webster • 20 Elsworthy • 21 L. Allchurch • 22 T. Baker • Coach: Murphy

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