Albert Quixall brought the vital quality of glamour to Manchester United in the aftermath of the Munich air crash in 1958 that few others could have matched. He had star power and an aura of modernity that helped dispel perceptions of United as an object of pity.
I loved watching him, with his brilliant blond hair, always up for a spot of trickery. His ball control was effortlessly magnetic, his passing velvety and accurate, his penalty kicks nerveless and he was often at the heart of the best team moves. Genuinely progressive in his approach to the game, he took ballet lessons with his wife to improve his balance and posture.
He and teammate Dennis Viollet risked the wrath of the manager, Matt Busby, by flying to Spain one Sunday in 1960 just to see the mighty Real Madrid, hoping to learn the secrets of their success.
