How the football world reacted to Busby's death

The man who created one of the most exciting sides ever seen, his famous Babes, only for the Munich Air Disaster in 1958 to tragically shatter the hopes and dreams of that incredible bunch of young footballers.

Busby fought for his life in Germany and recovered, somehow summoning up the strength to rebuild at United, ensuring the Reds became the first English side to win the European Cup, his holy grail, a decade later.

He continued his association with the Reds and looked on proudly from the stands when Alex Ferguson's team ended the long wait for the title in 1993. The following year, this is how those who knew him best paid tribute to the legacy he left behind...

Sir Bobby Charlton: "Sir Matt was Manchester United. It's very difficult to put into words what Sir Matt achieved at United. He created an atmosphere and teams which made United a magical place and changed people's lives. He made Manchester United the most famous club in the world. I've lost a true friend."

Denis Law: "Football has lost the greatest ambassador it has known. No matter what era he had been manager, he would have been the greatest - for Scotland, for England, for anybody. It is a sad loss for me, not just as a football man but as a friend."

Nobby Stiles: "Matt was a marvellous, lovely man. I joined United in 1957 and Matt had created a lovely family atmosphere. I used to clean the boots of the star players but it was a joy just to be part of that family atmosphere. Sir Matt was the reason for Manchester United's success."

Paddy Crerand: "I think he put Manchester on the map, more than any other human being. Not just United but Manchester itself. He was a great father figure to all of us in his teams, and he showed so much interest in you as a person. A lovely man who will never be forgotten."

Jackie Blanchflower: "He was the first tracksuit manager, a psychologist, an inspirational leader of men. This man was like a second father to me. As a manager, it's simple. He was the best there ever was. He carried the scar of Munich with him for the rest of his life, I believe. But it was a measure of his greatness that he built the greatness of United again."

Shay Brennan: "I know people say nice things about people when they die but, in the case of Sir Matt, everything you hear praising him is true. He was a very tough, strong man, but it is true to say that everybody loved him, even people outside the club."

Sir Alex Ferguson: "He was an incredible man and a fantastic manager. In my estimation, he was the outstanding man of them all - even Bill Shankly and Jock Stein sought his experience and advice. He stood above everybody and he will be sorely missed at Old Trafford. I'm just so glad that we won the league before he died, and that he was there to see us do it."

Ron Atkinson: "No one stands above him. Everything achieved at Old Trafford, everything we see there, is down to Sir Matt."

Tommy Docherty: "He played the game the way it should be played and hated boring football. They should rename Old Trafford The Matt Busby Stadium because, for so many years, he was Manchester United."

Eamon Dunphy (Busby's biographer):  "His personal charismatic quality was something that I have never experienced in any other human being. He had an incredible magnetism."

David Meek (Manchester Evening News writer): "He never lost the common touch and was as ease with the humble folk, as well as the famous. Sir Matt was truly the grand old man of English football, who will be remembered for all time as the father of the modern-day Manchester United."

Steve Bruce (then United captain): "Sir Matt will be sadly missed. His teams weren't just successful, it was the way they did it and the style they played. When you win for Manchester United, you have to win in style because that's the way Sir Matt played the game."