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Portrait of William Whelan

William Whelan

Position: forward

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Name: William Augustine "Billy" Whelan
Birthdate: 01-04-1935
Age: 90
Birthplace: Dublin, Ireland
Height: 5' 10" (1.78m)
Weight: 11st 11lbs (74.84kg)
Years at Club: 1954-1958
Signing Info: Signed Trainee: 05/1953
Previous Clubs:
Debut: 26/03/1955 v Preston North End (A) 2-0 (League Division One)
Farewell: Died of injuries sustained in Munich Air Crash, 06/02/1958
Passed Away: 06/02/1958

Biography
Liam "Billy" Whelan was an exceptionally talented Irish forward and one of Manchester United's celebrated Busby Babes. Born in Dublin, Whelan began his career at Home Farm and joined United in 1953. He debuted in the first team in 1954, quickly establishing himself as a natural goal-scorer, known for his calm demeanor, precise shooting, and sharp positioning.

Over four seasons, Whelan scored 43 goals in 79 league appearances, playing a crucial role in United's First Division titles in 1955-56 and 1956-57. His knack for scoring with either foot and from difficult angles made him a beloved player among fans and a key asset to Matt Busby's young team.

Whelan was deeply religious, and though he avoided alcohol and held onto a quiet, humble lifestyle, he brought vibrancy to United's attack. His career was tragically cut short in the Munich air disaster on February 6, 1958, at just 22 years old, alongside several teammates. Remembered as one of Ireland's brightest footballing talents, Whelan's legacy is marked by his goal-scoring prowess and the promise he showed in the early years of Manchester United's post-war success. His dedication, humility, and contributions to United have left a lasting impact on the club and its fans.
 
Season Goals Season Appearances
League Goals League Appearances League Cup Goals League Cup Appearances FA Cup Goals FA Cup Appearances Charity Shield Goals Charity Shield Appearances European Cup Goals European Cup Appearances UEFA Cup Goals UEFA Cup Appearances Super Cup Goals Super Cup Appearances Cup Winners Cup Goals Cup Winners Cup Appearances Inter-Continental Cup Goals Inter-Continental Cup Appearances Club World Cup Goals Club World Cup Appearances Season
Goals
Season
Apps
1. 1954-1955 1 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7
2. 1955-1956 4 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 13
3. 1956-1957 26 39 0 0 4 6 0 1 3 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 54
4. 1957-1958 12 20 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 24
TOTALS 43 79 0 0 4 6 0 2 5 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 52 98

Detailed Match & Performance Charts

Goals Chart

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Appearances Chart

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Opponent Manager

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MUFC Manager

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Stadium Appearances

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Competition Breakdown

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Opponent Count

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Opponents by Nationality

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Own Goals

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Cup Finals

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Penalties

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Hat-Tricks

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Red Cards

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All matches played

 

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