...........
|
Full
Name
|
Dennis
Viollet
|
|
Date
of Birth
|
20th
Sept 1933
|
|
Place
of Birth
|
Manchester
|
|
Position
|
Striker
|
|
Height
|
5ft
10
|
|
Squad
Number
|
7
|
.....
|
Viollet's
United Record 1952-1962
|
Total
Appearances 291
Total
Goals
178
...
Viollet's
International Record
1960-1961
|
2
Caps for England
..
1st Div League Championship1956
1st Div League Championship1957
|
One of the most prolific
goalscorers in Old Trafford history Dennis Viollet was a goal scoring
machine. Viollet was slim, perhaps even frail of appearance, but
with lightning pace and top quality control he which could slice
through the best defences like a knife through butter.His appearance
was deceptive and any defence that underestimated him soon paid
the consequences.
He also had the distribution and all round ability to succeed in
a deep-lying positions which he did at times for United and, later
in his career with Stoke City.His only discernible flaw was a lack
of aerial ability, however when playing alongside the likes of Taylor
this was not a problem.
Together with Tommy Taylor he formed a lethal combination. In 1959/60
he really did demonstrate his quality, firing in 32 goals in 36
League matches, more strikes in one season campaign than any United
player before or up to the present day 1999. His record still stands
and is unlikely to be beaten, outscoring such greats as Jack Rowley,
Stan Pearson ,Tommy Taylor, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and George
Best, such is the scale of his great United achievement. |
Born in Manchester and
Munich survivor, Viollet was one of the original Busby Babes that
conquered England in 1956 and 57.Together with his partner-in-goals
Tommy Taylor they terrorised First Division defences, but England
only selected half of the super United double-act in Tommy Taylor.But
if England fans were denied the chance his great talents, United
supporters faced no such deprivation in those glorious adventurous
pre-Munich days. Viollet loved the space created by the bustling
Taylor who, in turn,scored off the opportunities fashioned by his
cohort. Anyone who doubted that Dennis was an outstanding performer
in his own right was soon answered with proof After Tommy was killed
and Dennis made that goal-scoring record.
In January 1962 he transferred to Stoke and later Irish League Linfield,
before he completed his football career with the NASL and finally
a coach in the United States.Dennis Viollet died in March 1999 aged
65.Bobby Charlton said of him "I'm delighted his record has still
not been broken, its the perfect way to remember him".Viollet was
a 1950s Dwight Yorke or Denis Law, a goal scorer worthy of the great
places in Manchester United history.
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