Harry Maguire’s Manchester United stint has been a disaster by all measures. A mistake waiting to happen United’s captain has often epitomized the malaise running through the club. A high-profile signing from Leicester City, the Old Trafford club stumped up £80 million ($110 million) for his signature. With a root-and-branch overhaul on the cards under new manager Erik Ten Haag, Maguire’s future at the club is perhaps under question. A centre-back devoid of confidence and jokingly labelled as the player David De Gea fears the most, he attracts brickbats and threat mails by the dozens.

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While he has hardly led from the front on the pitch, the Sheffield born centre back showed his finer qualities in visiting Manchesterplatz, a street named in honour of the tragic Busby Babes, ahead of England’s Nations League skirmish against arch-rivals Germany. The Busby Babes, if we may recall, were the gifted side helmed by legendary manager Matt Busby. Travelling back from a European fixture in Belgrade on the 6th of February 1958, the United team and staff- along with supporters and journalists- would suffer a disastrous plane crash after a take-off attempt went awry in Munich’s old airport- The Munich-Reim. The British Airways carrier stopped to refuel at the German city before flying out to Manchester. However, inclement weather would prevent a smooth take-off, ensuring two aborted attempts. Fearing delay, flight captain James Thain decided to go ahead with it at the third time asking, but with slush collecting at the end of the runway, it proved to be fatal.

The aircraft would hit the slush, veer off the runway, breaking through a fence as its left wing came off on collision with a nearby house. The tail section would come apart, hitting a parked fuel truck. It immediately caught fire and exploded. Fearing the worst passengers were evacuated as best as possible, with help being extended by United’s then goalkeeper Harry Gregg. Unfortunately, 23 would perish, 20 of them on-site in a memory that scars the inner streets of Manchester (and beyond) to this day. Among the casualties were some of United’s most gifted footballers, including young Duncan Edwards, long slated for greatness.

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In 2004, Manchester United installed a memorial on the spot where the mishap happened, immortalizing in marble and stone the lives lost. Maguire paid his respects at the site at dusk, accompanied only by an FA official. Spending around 30 minutes at the site, it was a moment of sombre reflection for the United captain.