The past and the future

Today, the football world unites to remember those who were lost in the Munich plane crash on its 50th anniversary. This incomprehendable tragedy killed 23 people aboard a plane returning from a European Cup quarter-final, including 7 young Manchester United players. This was a team which won and retained the league title in 1956 and 57 with an average age of just 21, a staggering acheivement. These were the stars of their generation. It is virtually impossible to put a disaster like this into context, and to imagine the equivalent in today’s terms of superstars and TV cameras. Today, even those football fans with the strongest of anti-Manchester United sentiments surely must stand alongside the rest of the footballing community and give thought to one of the most terrible tragedies ever to hit the sport.

In tribute to those young men lost 50 years ago, and as a look into the future, here is a video compilation of 50 of the worlds best young players, some more well known than others. These are players who will likely be the stars of the next decade, the next international tournaments. 50 years ago, the ‘Busby Babes’ were the equivalent.