The Man Who Kept The Red Flag Flying: Jimmy Murphy: The Fully Authorised Life Story

“Telling them what Jimmy did... it’s the most important thing you can tell a young player who is representing Manchester United,” - Sir Alex Ferguson

This updated, family authorised biography of Manchester United hero Jimmy Murphy celebrates the career of the man who managed the club after the Munich air disaster and took charge of Wales at the 1958 World Cup.

Alongside Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson, nobody in the long history of Manchester United is as important as Jimmy Murphy.

As legendary Manchester United manager Busby lay in an oxygen tent in his hospital bed, recovering from the horror of the Munich plane crash, he clutched the friend of his close friend and faithful right-hand-man Murphy. Murphy stepped into Busby’s shoes and answered United’s call in their hour of need. More than that, he provided the spark which would see a phoenix spectacularly rise from the flames.

Murphy would be at Busby’s side as the club famously conquered England and Europe, driven by a new generation of Babes. Murphy would remain United’s assistant manager up to 1971, going on to become a club scout, unearthing and recruiting famous talents like Gordon Hill and Steve Coppell. In his other role as Wales’ football manager, he would mastermind his country’s appearance in the World Cup finals – taking Wales to the brink of the semi-finals in 1958.

The Man Who Kept The Red Flag Flying has been written in full cooperation with Murphy’s family, with unique insight from sons Nick and Jimmy Junior. It features contributions and comments from Sir Alex Ferguson, George Best, Tommy Docherty and Ron Atkinson, among many, and rare excerpts from the Daily Mirror and Manchester Evening News archives. This updated title will celebrate the 60th anniversary of Manchester United’s 1965 First Division title and the unveiling of a statue dedicated to Murphy at Old Trafford in 2023 in its honour.

© 2025 QUEST from W. F. Howes Ltd (Audiobook): 9781004221981

Release date

Audiobook: 9 October 2025