Manchester United, one of the most famous clubs in football and in all sports, is known worldwide as the “Red Devils”.
Nicknames are instantly recognizable, and brands are among the most valuable in sports.
According to a study conducted by marketing company Kantar in 2019, the club can count 1.1 billion people in its huge number of fans and followers, making it a club The most famous football in the world. A June 2021 study by William Hill, using online trend data from Google, reached the same conclusion.
THAN: Inside FIFA’s proposal for a biennial World Cup
But where did the nickname “Red Devil” come from? It was the creation of – in fact, borrowed by – legendary coach Sir Matt Busby in the 1960s shortly after the Munich air disaster.
Man United’s nickname against the Red Devils
During the 1950s and early 1960s, United were often referred to as the “Busby Babes” in reference to the team’s famous and beloved manager. Busby, in charge since 1945, led the club out of the Second World War and made the team champions in just a few years.
It didn’t take long for him to become an influential figure at the club and popular across the country. The Busby Babes nickname soon followed and became attached, in reference to his lovable, youthful squad.
THAN: Mbappe beat Lewandowski at Globe Soccer Awards
The 1958 Munich air disaster, which killed 23 people, including eight players – the victims included captain Roger Byrne, young superstar Duncan Edwards and England player Tommy Taylor – left a mark in history. club.
Busby had to rebuild the roster, and with it, he sought a new identity. The nickname “Busby Babes” has become a traumatic memory, a reference that evokes tragedy, fallen club members, and a reminder of the innocence lost in the Line Disasters. no Munich, where players pull survivors from the rubble.
Why is Manchester United’s nickname “Red Devils”
Local rugby club Salford – a city based in the Greater Manchester area – is officially known as the Red Devils, but is widely known as the “Red Devils” (logo below), especially The name dates back to 1934 when the club dominated a league in France, prompting local journalists to refer to them as “Les Diables Rouges”.
The rugby team, which played a game at Old Trafford in November 1958 just months after the plane crash in February, inspired Busby, who eventually adopted the nickname for his club. . He preferred the scarier image of the “Reds” to the former “Busby Babes”, which sounded more innocent and he began to apply it to Manchester United.
Over time, the nickname grew in popularity, in part because it also paid homage to the club’s original moniker in the late 1800s, when they were originally known as Newton Heath. or “The Heathens”. Manchester United have been the Red Devils ever since.
In the aftermath of the Munich Air Disaster and having adopted a new identity, Busby built another winner.
In 1968, Manchester United became the first English club to win the Champions League, and Busby was cemented as a legend. In 1973, the club changed its logo to officially feature a red devil holding a trident.
The Red Devils have become an integral part of the Man United brand around the world, and today the club’s mascot is… guess what: Fred the Red, a smiling, horned red devil and all.
