Ineos pair attend Munich memorial
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford joined Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag at a service to mark the 66th anniversary of the Munich air disaster yesterday.
The Ineos chairman and his director of sport were among those present to pay their respects to the 23 people, including eight “Busby Babes”, who lost their lives in the tragedy that has done so much to shape the history of United.
Ratcliffe and Brailsford, along with Ten Hag, United captain Bruno Fernandes, former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and other prominent figures from the club assembled beneath the Munich memorial plaque at Old Trafford. Rev John Boyers, the former club chaplain, was the master of ceremonies for the 45-minute service featuring readings and songs by supporters.
Marc Skinner, the manager of the club’s women’s team, and their captain, Katie Zelem, were also present, together with Patrick Stewart, who is United’s interim chief executive before Omar Berrada takes over in the summer, and former players Brian Kidd and Paddy Crerand.
Kidd and Crerand were part of the United team managed by Sir Matt Busby and featuring fellow Munich survivor Sir Bobby Charlton who lifted the European Cup in 1968, a decade after the crash.
This is the first anniversary of the disaster since Charlton, arguably the greatest player in United’s history, died in October, aged 86.
Mike Phelan, the former United player and assistant manager, represented the club in Munich. He visited the grave of Franz Beckenbauer yesterday with former Bayern player Franz Roth to lay a wreath, before visiting Manchesterplatz.
Beckenbauer died last month aged 78. He was part of the Bayern side with Roth who won three successive European Cups and he lifted the World Cup as a player and manager with Germany.
Ratcliffe’s attendance at the service was the latest example of the Ineos founder and his team wanting to take a proactive role in the day-to-day life of the club, and is in stark contrast to the reclusive approach of the Glazers over the past 19 years.