Irishman Tony Dunne , the European champion with Manchester United in 1968, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 78, the Premier League confirmed. The winger, who was barely over 1.65 in height, completed an exemplary career in the legendary team led by Sir Matt Busby , with 535 games, a record only surpassed by Ryan Giggs , Bobby Charlton , Paul Scholes , Bill Foulkes , Gary Neville , Wayne Rooney and Alex Stepney .

Charlton, the captain of that United who knocked Benfica out in overtime (4-1), defined Dunne at the time as "the fastest defense in Europe". His consistency on the left flank was so consistent that he only missed six league games in four seasons, making him essential in the 1965 and 1967 titles. Previously, that formidable team also beat Leicester City to win the FA Cup in 1963.

Dunne had landed at Old Trafford three years earlier, in the process of rebuilding the club after the 1958 air tragedy in Munich. After removing Shay Brennan from the ownership , this Dubliner confirmed himself as one of the most important defenders on the continent, while United, after a very tough semi-final resolved against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu (3-3), finally touched glory in the Wembley final.

Sad distancing

In 1969 Dunne was voted Irish Footballer of the Year, an unusual milestone for a defender at the time. With his team he played 33 games over 13 years. However, his adventures with United ended unexpectedly in 1973, perhaps due to his strained relationship with Tommy Docherty , a coach of the 'red devils'.

His next destination was Bolton Wanderers, where he played almost 200 games, including in the English second division. In 1978 he crossed the Atlantic to try his luck with the Detroit Express of the North American Soccer League (NASL).

Dunne's grudge with the Old Trafford club was also personalized with Busby, whom he accused of failing to respect his hierarchy. Their estrangement materialized in 1999, when they rejected the club's invitation to travel to Barcelona for the final against Bayern Munich.

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