Tony Dunne, Manchester United player

Player 557 of 863 ordered by dob<< First < Prev | Next > Last >>

Player 239 of 863 ordered a-z<< First < Prev | Next > Last >>

Tony Dunne played left full-back for Manchester United in the successful team of the 1960s. Though less prominent than many of his colleagues, he was an accomplished defender whose dependability was a great asset to the side.

Tony Dunne, came from Dublin. He signed for Manchester United in 1960 after beginning his professional career with Shelbourne FC. He proved to be one of the club’s best buys, playing for thirteen seasons and making over five hundred appearances. In his early years he shared the full-back duties with Shay Brennan and Noel Cantwell. He would play left-back with Brennan, or right-back with Cantwell. Eventually he became the first choice left full-back and continued as such throughout the sixties and into the early seventies. He was an integral part of the success of the era, and collected winners’ medals in the FA Cup, League Championship and European Cup. In the early seventies it was time to form a new team and, in 1973, with Tommy Docherty as manager, Dunne was given a free transfer to Bolton Wanderers. He played there for a further fives seasons, prompting some to wonder whether his exit had been premature.

Dunne was a solid and dependable full-back. He played as part of a defensive unit, always ready to cover for his colleagues. He was very quick, though this rarely tempted him to move too far forward. (In his Manchester United career he only scored two goals in five hundred and thirty-five appearances.) His distribution was simple and effective. With all the talented ball-players ahead of him, little more was required. Dunne proved to be one of Manchester United’s most able defenders and in the list of all-time club appearances, he remains in the top-ten. He also made thirty-three appearances for the Republic of Ireland and, in 1969, was voted Irish Footballer of the Year.