Man Utd confirm statue plans for legendary assistant manager Jimmy Murphy

Manchester United have provided an update on their planned statue for former assistant manager Jimmy Murphy.

The Red Devils have confirmed they have enlisted award-winning sculpture Alan Herriot as the person behind the upcoming statue.

In May 2021, United confirmed plans to honour Murphy with a statue for his work at the club between 1946 and 1971.

The Welshman was initially hired as a coach before later being promoted to Sir Matt Busby’s assistant manager.

He played a pivotal part in developing younger players, including Duncan Edwards and Sir Bobby Charlton, and helped guide the club to multiple FA Youth Cups.

A date for the planned statue is yet to be confirmed, but the Red Devils hope to have it completed by the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

The Statue will be placed outside the Stretford End. United have described the reason for choosing this location as it will be ‘overlooking the area where Jimmy used to coach the Busby Babes on a training pitch made of ash cinders’.

Herriot, who is a life-long Red Devils fan, recently created a statue of United and Scotland legend Denis Law in Aberdeen.

He was tasked with producing the stature of Murphy following discussions between the latter’s family and family and a coalition of United supporters’ groups.

Murphy was more than just a coach and assistant manager for the Red Devils, taking temporary reigns of the club following the Munich air disaster.

The Welshman was responsible for rebuilding the club’s squad following the disaster and guided them to the FA Cup final in 1958.

Upon completion, Murphy’s statue will join that of Busby, Sir Alex Ferguson, and the “United Trinity” of Charlton, George Best and Law, outside Old Trafford.