Manchester United and England legend Duncan Edwards was born on this day, Oct. 1, 80 years ago.
The versatile player's life was tragically cut short at the age of 21 in the Munich air disaster of 1958, by which time he had already been marked out for greatness after winning consecutive titles with United and having played 151 games for the club.
He had also become the youngest player capped by England, aged 18 years and 183 days -- which was a record finally broken by Michael Owen in 1998.
On Saturday, Edwards' best friend Sir Bobby Charlton unveiled a plaque commemorating his friend in Dudley, which is where he lived as a boy. Below are a selection of tributes, from over the years, by those who knew him.
Sir Bobby Charlton, former Manchester United and England player: "Duncan was incomparable. He was such a talent, I always felt inferior to him. I feel terrible trying to explain to people just how good he was. His death was the biggest single tragedy ever to happen to Manchester United and English football. I always felt I could compare well with any player - - except Duncan. He didn't have a fault with his game. I totally believe he was the best player I ever saw or am likely to see."
Sir Tom Finney, former England player: "He was so strong, people could only see the power, but he had a most delicate touch. Manchester United came back and prospered after the crash, but they never had better than the boys of '58. It is very sad to think what he might have done if he had been allowed. Unquestionably, he would have been in the very highest rank."
Don Revie, former England player and manager: "You don't hear many professionals talk lightly of greatness because it is so rare, but that is what I saw in Duncan Edwards the first time I set eyes on him. He reached the same fabulous standard at left-half, centre-half, inside-left and centre-forward. He is the kind of player managers dream about."
Tommy Docherty, former Manchester United manager: "There is no doubt in my mind that Duncan would have become the greatest player ever. Not just in British football, with United and England, but the best in the world. George Best was something special, as was Pele and [Diego] Maradona, but in my mind Duncan was much better in terms of all-round ability and skill."
Jimmy Armfield, former England player: "With Edwards, [Roger] Byrne and [Tommy] Taylor, we would have won the World Cup in 1958 and then four years later. England could have had a hat-trick of World Cup wins."
Jimmy Murphy, former Manchester United caretaker manager: "When I used to hear Muhammad Ali proclaim to the world that he was the greatest, I used to smile. You see, the greatest of them all was an English footballer named Duncan Edwards."