Dennis Viollet

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Lore & Background

Viollet joined Manchester United on 1 September 1949. He came through the junior ranks at United and turned professional in 1950. His first competitive game for the first team came against Newcastle United on 11 April 1953 and he was a key part of the United teams that won back to back First Division titles in 1956 and 1957. One of his most notable games came on 26 September 1956, in the second leg of United's European Cup preliminary round tie against Belgian champions Anderlecht, in which he scored four goals in a 10–0 win that remains United's biggest competitive victory. In February 1958, Viollet was flying back from a European Cup match in Belgrade via Munich; attempting to take off in bad weather, the plane crashed, killing 21 people, including seven Manchester United players, in what would become known as the Munich air disaster. Viollet survived, suffering only injuries to his head and face, and he returned to action before the end of the season, less than three months later. He played in the 1958 FA Cup Final against Bolton Wanderers, which United lost 2–0, and less than a week later, he scored the equalising goal in a 2–1 win over Milan in the first leg of their European Cup semi-final; Milan won the second leg 4–0 to deny United a place in the final. After scoring 21 goals in 37 league appearances in 1958–59, Viollet had his most prolific season to date in 1959–60, scoring 32 goals in 36 league appearances, a post-war club record. In recognition of his scoring exploits, Viollet received his first call-up to the England team in May 1960; after being left out for a 3–3 home draw with Yugoslavia and a 3–0 away defeat to Spain on 15 May, he was named at inside left for a 2–0 away defeat to Hungary a week later. Despite missing three months of the 1960–61 season, he still scored 15 goals, behind only Bobby Charlton and Alex Dawson as Manchester United's top scorer, and in September 1961, he was called up to the England squad again for a 1962 World Cup qualifier at home to Luxembourg; Viollet scored England's second goal in a 4–1 win. In January 1962, Matt Busby surprisingly sold the 28-year-old Viollet to Stoke City for £25,000 after scoring 179 goals in 293 appearances for United. He joined a team being re-built by Tony Waddington, containing experienced players such as Stanley Matthews, and Jackie Mudie and also emerging talent such as John Ritchie a

In Their Own Story

The plane lurched, then shuddered. Snow lashed the windows of the Airspeed Ambassador as it tried to take off from Munich-Riem Airport. Dennis Viollet, a 24-year-old Busby Babe, was on board, returning from a European Cup match in Belgrade. The aircraft failed to gain speed, ploughed through the runway fence, and smashed into a house. The crash killed 21 people, including seven of his Manchester United teammates. Viollet survived, suffering only injuries to his head and face. Less than three months later, he was back on the pitch. He played in the 1958 FA Cup Final, which United lost 2–0 to Bolton Wanderers. Then, less than a week after that defeat, he scored the equalising goal in a 2–1 win over AC Milan in the first leg of the European Cup semi-final. Milan won the second leg 4–0, denying United a place in the final. Viollet's resilience defined his career. He went on to score 32 goals in 36 league appearances in 1959–60, a club record at the time. In January 1962, Matt Busby surprisingly sold him to Stoke City for £25,000. At Stoke, he helped the club win the Second Division title in 1962–63, scoring 23 goals that season. He later moved into midfield and played in the 1964 Football League Cup Final, scoring in a 4–3 loss to Leicester City. After retiring, he moved to the United States, where he became a pioneering coach. He led the Jacksonville Tea Men to the 1983 ASL title, Jacksonville's first professional sports championship, and later won the 1995 USISL Premier League and US Open Cup double with the Richmond Kickers. He also coached at Jacksonville University and volunteered with youth soccer in Orange Park, Florida, where the Dennis Viollet Soccer Complex is named in his honour.

Reader's Guide

Dennis Viollet was a prolific striker for Manchester United, scoring 179 goals in 293 appearances from 1953 to 1962. He survived the Munich air disaster and later played for Stoke City, where he helped them win the Second Division title in 1962–63. He earned two England caps, scoring once. After retiring, he had a long coaching career in the United States, winning the 1983 ASL title with the Jacksonville Tea Men and the 1995 USISL Premier League and US Open Cup double with the Richmond Kickers. He also coached at Jacksonville University and contributed to youth soccer in Orange Park, Florida.

Did You Know?

• Viollet scored four goals in Manchester United's 10–0 win over Anderlecht on 26 September 1956, which remains United's biggest competitive victory.
• He survived the Munich air disaster in February 1958 with only head and face injuries and returned to action less than three months later.
• Viollet scored 32 goals in 36 league appearances in 1959–60, a Manchester United club record at the time.
• He was sold by Matt Busby to Stoke City for £25,000 in January 1962, having scored 179 goals in 293 appearances for United.
• His daughter Rachel Viollet became the British number one ranked tennis player and reached the second round of Wimbledon in 1996.