Fast forwarding a few decades to the 1940s and 50s, Manchester United began to develop their youth system under manager Sir Matt Busby. He believed in building the team from a strong youth academy rather than bringing in outside players from other clubs. Sir Matt Busby built a young team known as the “Busby Babes”, which won First Division titles in 1952, 1956, and 1957.[6] A dynasty was being built right before Manchester’s eyes. As with earlier in the club’s history, a tragic accident occurred just a year later after their last First Division title. Known as the Munich Air Disaster, it was a plane crash that killed eight players, including the young star, Duncan Edwards. The club was devastated by this tragedy, as the very players that had brought the club success had died so suddenly in a freak accident. Busby, understanding the magnitude of the situation and the need for resilience within the club and the city of Manchester, rebuilt the team and created a legacy for those who had died in Munich.
Sir Matt Busby not only rebuilt the team but won one of the most prestigious trophies in England in 1963, the FA Cup. The FA Cup was a tournament that included teams from every division of English soccer, ranging from the top divisions, with teams like Manchester United and Arsenal, the whole way down to teams where the players had other jobs to make a living. In the Best, Charlton, and Law era, United saw great success, winning the 1965 and 1967 league titles, as well as becoming the first English club to win the European Cup in 1968. United faced a short decline, being relegated in 1974, before being promoted back in 1975. This decline lasted for a moment, with two more FA Cup titles in 1983 and 1985. This came at the cost of no league titles, as this became the new expectation for the developing English powerhouse.