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Dalian Atkinson

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Dalian Atkinson
Personal information
Full name Dalian Robert Atkinson[1]
Date of birth (1968-03-21) 21 March 1968 (age 56)
Place of birth Telford, Shropshire, England
Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Position(s) Striker
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1985–1989 Ipswich Town 60 (18)
1989–1990 Sheffield Wednesday 38 (10)
1990–1991 Real Sociedad 29 (12)
1991–1995 Aston Villa 85 (23)
1995–1997 Fenerbahçe 21 (10)
1996 → Metz (loan) 0 (0)
1996–1997 → Manchester City (loan) 8 (2)
1997–1999 Al-Ittihad ? (?)
2001 Daejeon Citizen 1 (0)
2001 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 4 (0)
Total 246+ (75+)
International career
1990 England B 1 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Dalian Robert Atkinson (born 21 March 1968) is an English former footballer who played as a striker in the Football League and Premier League for Ipswich Town, Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa and Manchester City,[2] in La Liga for Real Sociedad,[3] in Ligue 1 for Metz, in the Turkish Super League for Fenerbahçe,[1] in Saudi Arabia for Al-Ittihad, and in the K-League for Daejeon Citizen and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Career

Atkinson is probably most often remembered for his magnificent solo goal against Wimbledon in a 3-2 away win on 3 October 1992, which won a BBC Match of the Day Goal of the Season competition for the 1992-93 season, the first season of the new FA Premier League, when Villa finished runners-up.[4] Starting deep in the Aston Villa half of the pitch with a one-touch trap from a lofted ball that immediately took him away from a defending player, Atkinson then skipped past two more Wimbledon players and, pausing briefly as he reached the edge of the opposition penalty area, produced a delicately arced chip-shot that floated over the onrushing goalkeeper. He also had the distinction of scoring Villa's first Premier League goal, when he scored their 84th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Ipswich Town on the opening day of the season.[5]

He is also fondly remembered by Aston Villa fans for his inspirational performance and crucial goal in the 1994 League Cup final win against Manchester United. He also scored twice in the semi finals against Tranmere Rovers (once in the first leg and once in the second).

Atkinson first came to prominence at Ipswich Town as a teenager, impressing seasoned experts with his speed and daring which included an incredible hat-trick against a Middlesbrough side containing Gary Pallister and future Ipswich captain Tony Mowbray at the heart of their defence in the 1987-88 season.

In 1989, manager Ron Atkinson brought him to Sheffield Wednesday for £450,000 where he formed a fine front partnership with David Hirst for a single season. He was an ever-present in the league for Sheffield Wednesday in his only season there, scoring 10 goals but being unable to prevent them from being relegated. After relegation he was sold to Real Sociedad for £1.7million.

He was the first black player in Real Sociedad's history. Nicknamed "el txipiron" (the squid) by Sociedad fans, he was part of an English trio at the Spanish club, along with Kevin Richardson and John Aldridge, during the 1990-91 season. Unfortunately, the Spanish did not have a good year, although Atkinson made a good contribution over the season, scoring 12 goals in La Liga. Nevertheless, the club's hierarchy was dissatisfied with the behaviour of Atkinson off the field, so they decided to sell him after receiving an offer from Aston Villa that was close to the money the paid the year before for the English player.

After joining Aston Villa for £1.6million in July 1991, he became one half of another impressive partnership, the so-called D-Men (AKA Deadly Duo), alongside Dean Saunders, when Saunders arrived from Liverpool a year after Atkinson arrived there from Real Sociedad. The partnership was broken up in 1995 when both players were sold to Turkish clubs - Saunders to Galatasaray and Atkinson to Fenerbahçe for £1.7 million.[6]

However, despite an encouraging start, Atkinson failed to settle in Turkey and had loan spells with FC Metz and Manchester City before leaving in 1997 and winding down his career with spells in Saudi Arabia and South Korea, finally retiring as a player in 2001. His statistics in the K-League are below:

References

  1. ^ a b "Player Details: Dalian Robert Atkinson". Turkish Football Federation. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  2. ^ "Dalian Atkinson". UK A–Z Transfers. Neil Brown. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  3. ^ "Real Sociedad - Liga BBVA Squad season 1990-1991". Liga de Futból Profesional. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
  4. ^ [1]
  5. ^ [2]
  6. ^ Ridley, Ian (13 August 1995). "Club-by-club guide: The prospects, the players to watch, the arrivals and departures". The Independent. Retrieved 10 October 2010.

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