Name: Brian Greenhoff
Country:
EnglandClub: Manchester United F.C.
Position: *CB, DMF
Side: RF/BS
Age: 23-25 years (28/04/1953)
Height: 178 cm
Weight: 75 kg
Attack: 69
Defence: 84
Balance: 83
Stamina: 85
Top Speed: 77
Acceleration: 78
Response: 83
Agility: 78
Dribble Accuracy: 74
Dribble Speed: 74
Short Pass Accuracy: 77
Short Pass Speed: 76
Long Pass Accuracy: 75
Long Pass Speed: 76
Shot Accuracy: 68
Shot Power: 80
Shot Technique: 65
Free Kick Accuracy: 70
Curling: 72
Header: 84
Jump: 82
Technique: 76
Aggression: 70
Mentality: 82
Goalkeeper Skills: 50
Team Work: 78
Injury Tolerance: B
Condition/Fitness: 6
Weak Foot Accuracy: 5
Weak Foot Frequency: 5
Consistency: 6
Growth type: Standard/Lasting
CARDS:
P16 - Extra Attacker
S07 - Man Marking
S09 - Covering
SPECIAL ABILITIES: Marking - Covering
Attack/Defence Awareness Card: Defence-Minded
INFO:
Ball-playing defender with a great passing game. He had those famous runs from the back through the middle. Decent speed and curve in his balls. Also took free kicks from the side.
He joined Manchester United as a youth player in 1968, and made his first-team debut in 1973. Upon greeting Greenhoff, Tommy Docherty exclaimed, "I've got you at last. The long way round, but I've got you at last." Despite relegation in the 1973–74 season, Greenhoff's performances had been one of the few plusses, causing him to be named the Supporters Player of the Season. Though used more often in midfield, Greenhoff was more comfortable playing at centre half - due to his talent on the ball and willingness to work hard for the team, he ended up being played in every position for the United first team - including in goal, when Alex Stepney was injured in a game at Birmingham City. Eventually Greenhoff was moved back into his preferred centre half position - by accident, according to Docherty, as his team were chasing a goal in a cup tie - and the modern United centre half was born. Disappointment in the 1976 FA Cup Final, where the image of a tearful Greenhoff being consoled by his manager became an iconic one, was followed by the best season of the player's career in 1976–77. A man of the match performance against Ajax in the UEFA Cup came in a strong start to the season, where he also became a regular at the heart of the defence in the England national team. In the 1977 FA Cup Final, it is commonly agreed that Greenhoff was the man of the match. He helped Manchester United win the 1977 FA Cup, he was a trier, enthusiastic and uncrushable, and was to develop into a crowd favourite as, blond locks flying, he set up the wing-heeled wide men Steve Coppell and Gordon Hill in counter-attack and by which time he had developed a partnership with Martin Buchan in central defence. He was very versatile, starting his career as a midfielder and finishing it as a centre back of international class. Greenhoff scored 17 goals in his Manchester United career and played 271 games between 1973 and 1979. Greenhoff left for Leeds United in 1979 for £350,000. He was given a free transfer when Leeds were relegated in 1982.
He won 18 caps for England, and appeared once for England B. Greenhoff played four times for the England under 23 team, scoring once and made his debut for England on 8 May 1976 in a 1–0 win at Ninian Park, Cardiff against Wales. His last game came on 31 May 1980 in a friendly against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney.
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