Viollet: The Life of a Legendary Goalscorer [Hardcover]

the co-authors deserve considerable praise for the depth of their research, especially of their subject's all-conquering exploits in schools football

The fascinating biography of a brilliant footballer

Unpretentious but absorbing biography. The former Busby Babe's career is fully explored in this heartfelt tribute

Viollet called his unwritten autobiography 'The Kings Have Gone' - this excellent work restores one of them to his throne.

A legendary goalscorer and "Busby Babe", Dennis Viollet's career took in tragedy and triumph in equal measure. As a player he thrilled thousands as an outstanding teenage footballer with Manchester United's all-conquering Babes, developing an almost telepathic understanding with fellow striker Tommy Taylor. Later, after surviving the Munich air disaster, Viollet broke Manchester United's record for goals in a season - a mark he still holds despite the attempts of Law, Cantona, Hughes, McClair, Yorke and Cole. Along with Wilf McGuinness, Dennis campaigned for the abolition of the maximum wage which saw United's greatest ever goal-poacher on wages of #20 per week. But by 1961 Dennis was mysteriously transferred from Old Trafford without a word from Matt Busby, the club or a good luck farewell from fans - United even denied the goalscoring legend a testimonial. Rather than dwell on his misfortune however, Dennis began a second career at Stoke City alongside Sir Stanley Matthews. There he helped the Potters win promotion back to Division One and, once he hung his boots up in 1967, received the testimonial he should have received in Manchester. In the second half of his life Dennis became 'Coach Viollet', a respected member of the British coaching establishment in the United States. But in 1998 Dennis fell ill and died, after a painful illness, in his adopted home of Florida in March 1999.