After Sir Matt Busby retired in 1971, Frank O'Farrell took over as manager; the Irishman finished seventh in the Debut Division with Manchester United in his first season, won the Second Division with Leicester in 1970, and played as a wing-half for West Ham and Preston.
Between July 1971 to December 1972, the Irishman led the Red Devils, succeeding Sir Matt Busby, who had returned to manager after his initial successor Wilf McGuiness was dismissed.
During the 1971/72 season, O'Farrell led United to a First Division title, losing only once in his first 14 league matches in charge, but they gradually faded from contention and ended last.
He was eventually sacked as United manager in late 1972 after a 5-0 defeat to Crystal Palace left the club languishing third from bottom in England's top flight. His overall Manchester United record saw him win 30 out of his 81 games in charge.
O'Farrell was born in Cork in 1927 and worked as a railway worker and a firefighter before joining Cork United in 1947. The left-back joined West Ham for £3,000 a year later and made his debut for the Hammers in 1950. He joined Preston in 1956 after making over 200 appearances for the east London club, where he played alongside club hero Sir Tom Finney.
Between 1952 and 1959, O'Farrell was a member of the Republic of Ireland national team nine times, scoring twice.
He played for Weymouth until retiring from the game in 1961 due to injury. He went on to manage the club where he retired. He played for Weymouth for four years before going to Torquay United, where he was promoted to the Third Division.
Before moving to Manchester United, O'Farrell had a spell at Leicester City, where he managed them to the 1969 FA Cup final, losing to Manchester City, and he could not prevent them from relegation from the First Division, but earned them promotion back to the top flight in 1971.
Old Trafford offered him a five-year contract of £15,000 per year after club legend Busby recommended him for the position. Bobby Charlton and Denis Law were among the players he managed, although he had a falling out with star player George Best. He had brief periods with Cardiff City, the Iranian national team, and Al-Shaab after being ousted as manager of the Red Devils, and he also returned to Torquay on two occasions.
Having achieved so much at Torquay United AFC, and having laid the foundations for many of the club's later successes, Frank O'Farrell's status as a club legend is unquestionable, and although his passing leaves a void that will never be filled, we remain privileged that such a large and successful club has left us, Torquay said in a statement on Monday.
