[Vadim Turkov]

Former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland left back Shay Brennan died suddenly at his home in Waterford on Friday night.
The 63-year-old came into the United team after the Munich air disaster in 1958 and helped the club to the European Cup success ten years later.

He also became the first English-born Ireland international, qualifying through his mother, who was born in Co Carlow, and went on to earn 19 caps for his country and become captain.

United Chairman Martin Edwards said everyone at the club was devastated by the death of Brennan, who always kept in touch and visited Old Trafford regularly.

Edwards said: "He will be remembered as one of the great United players from that European Cup winning team."

 

[Vadim Turkov]

Shay Brennan, one of Manchester United's famous Busby Babes and a former Republic of Ireland captain, died suddenly on a golf course in Tramore on Friday aged 63.

Having made his debut against Spain in Dublin in the summer of 1965, Brennan, capped 19 times in all by Ireland, skippered the side on five occasions.

Born in Manchester on 6 May, 1937, the full back was the first English-born player to take advantage of a change by Fifa to the eligibility rules.

With Manchester United, Brennan was thrown into the first-team following the Munich tragedy.

His impact was immediate, scoring twice and named man-of-the-match in the first game after the plane crash, an FA Cup tie against Sheffield Wednesday.

He was a member of the United sides which won league championships in 1965 and 1967, and he went on to help the club win the European Cup at Wembley in 1968.

Brennan moved to Ireland in the early Seventies where he played with a Waterford United side which collected back-to-back League of Ireland titles in 1972 and 1973.