Why are Manchester United called the Red Devils?
Manchester United Football Club is a professional football club in England. The club features in the Premier League. The club is nicknamed the Red Devils although it was founded as “Newton Heath LYR Football Club” in 1878
Manchester United football club are commonly associated with the strange moniker of “the Red Devils”, but the question on everyone’s lips is ‘how did this name come about?’
Manchester United were initially called “The Heathens” when the football club was established, dating back to 1878. Before its establishment, it was first known as the “Newton Heath Football Club”.
In 1902, the club was renamed Manchester United as part of their club rebrand, when their most common name was simply just “United”.
When Matt Busby took over in 1945, he changed the culture and tradition of the club introducing young players with energy to the club’s first team which led to them being called “The Busby Babes” by the press.
After the tragedy of the Munich Air Disaster In 1958, tragedy struck the club as the Munich Air Disaster claimed 23 lives, and those of eight players – Geoff Bent, Roger Byrne, Eddie Colman, Duncan Edwards, Mark Jones, David Pegg, Tommy Taylor, and Billy Whelan. From here the nickname “The Busby Babes” was retired.
The manager of the side, Matt Busby, was now in search of a befitting name for the club. After a long search, he came up with a new nickname for the side, drawing inspiration from the English rugby side Salford that had toured France in the 1930s.
Their kit -a red shirt- made French press to brand them as “Les Diables Rouges” – which translates to “the Red Devils”.
Busby preferred the name because it is more intimidating than the more angelic “Babes”. From then the club began to officially adopt the devil logo into their match day programs.
In 1970, the club’s badge was redesigned, with a signature devil featuring a pitchfork that has now become one of the club’s symbols.
MANCHESTER UNITED PROFILE
| Full name | Manchester United Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Red Devils United |
| Short name | Man United Man Utd |
| Founded | 1878; 144 years ago, as Newton Heath LYR F.C. 1902; 120 years ago, as Manchester United F.C. |
| Ground | Old Trafford |
| Capacity | 74,140 |
| Owner | Manchester United plc (NYSE: MANU) |
| Co-chairmen | Joel and Avram Glazer |
| Manager | Erik ten Hag |
| League | Premier League |
| 2021–22 | Premier League, 6th of 20 |
Domestic
League
- First Division/Premier League
- Winners (20; record): 1907–08, 1910–11,
1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
- Winners (20; record): 1907–08, 1910–11,
- Second Division
- Winners (2): 1935–36, 1974–75
Cups
- FA Cup
- Winners (12): 1908–09, 1947–48, 1962–
63, 1976–77, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2015–16
- Winners (12): 1908–09, 1947–48, 1962–
- Football League Cup/EFL Cup
- Winners (5): 1991–92, 2005–06, 2008–
09, 2009–10, 2016–17
- Winners (5): 1991–92, 2005–06, 2008–
- FA Charity Shield/FA Community Shield
- Winners (21; record): 1908, 1911, 1952,
1956, 1957, 1965*, 1967*, 1977*, 1983, 1990*, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016 ( * shared)
- Winners (21; record): 1908, 1911, 1952,
European Trophies
- European Cup/UEFA Champions League
- Winners (3): 1967–68, 1998–99, 2007–08
- European Cup Winners’ Cup
- Winners (1): 1990–91
- UEFA Europa League
- Winners (1): 2016–17
- European Super Cup
- Winners (1): 1991
Worldwide
- Intercontinental Cup
- Winners (1; British record): 1999
- FIFA Club World Cup
- Winners (1; British joint record): 2008
Doubles and Trebles
- Doubles
- League and FA Cup (3): 1993–94, 1995–96,
1998–99 - League and UEFA Champions League (2): 1998–99, 2007–08
- League and EFL Cup (1): 2008–09
- EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League (1): 2016–17
- League and FA Cup (3): 1993–94, 1995–96,
- Trebles
- League, FA Cup, and UEFA Champions League (1): 1998–99
POSITIONS
| Office | Name |
|---|---|
| Honorary president | Martin Edwards |
| Directors | David Gill Michael Edelson Sir Bobby Charlton Sir Alex Ferguson |
| Club secretary | Rebecca Britain |
| Football director | John Murtough |
| Deputy football director | Andy O’Boyle |
| Technical director | Darren Fletcher |
| Director of football operations | Alan Dawson |
Manchester United Limited
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Co-chairmen | Avram Glazer Joel Glazer |
| Chief executive | Richard Arnold |
| Chief financial officer | Cliff Baty |
| Chief operating officer | Collette Roche |
| Non-executive directors | Bryan Glazer Kevin Glazer Edward Glazer Darcie Glazer Kassewitz Robert Leitão John Hooks Manu Sawhney |
Coaching staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Erik ten Hag |
| Assistant coaches | Mitchell van der Gaag Steve McClaren |
| First-team coaches |  Eric Ramsay |
| Senior goalkeeping coach | Richard Hartis |
| Assistant goalkeeping coach | Craig Mawson |
| Head of football medicine & science (first-team doctor) | Steve McNally |
| Head of athletic performance | Richard Hawkins |
| Head of rehabilitation and physiotherapy | Robin Sadler |
| Fitness coaches |  Paulo Gaudino Charlie Owen |
| First-team strength and power coach | Michael Clegg |
| First-team lead sports scientist | Edward Leng |
| Head of academy | Nick Cox |
| Head of player development & coaching (U17–U23) |  Justin Cochrane |
| Under-23s lead coach |  Vacant |
| Under-18s lead coach | Travis Binnion |