Dixie Dean

Dixie Dean (William Ralph Dean, 22 January 1907 – 1 March 1980) was an English football player. He played for Everton FC during the 1920s and 30s.

Dixie Dean

Dixie Dean as a teenager in 1925
Personal information
Full name	William Ralph Dean
Date of birth	(1907-01-22)22 January 1907[1]
Place of birth	Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, UK
Date of death	1 March 1980(1980-03-01) (aged 73)
Place of death	Goodison Park, Liverpool, England, UK
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Centre forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1923–1925	Tranmere Rovers	30	(27)
1925–1937	Everton	399	(349)
1938–1939	Notts County	9	(3)
1939	Sligo Rovers	7	(10)
1940	Hurst	2	(1)
Total		447	(390)
National team
1927–1932	England	16	(18)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He scored more goals than any other player in English football history.[2]

Dean was born in Birkenhead in Merseyside. He began his career at his hometown club Tranmere Rovers before moving on to Everton. He was particularly known for scoring goals with his head. Dean played most of his career at Everton. When injuries caught up with him, he moved on to Notts County.

Dean is best known for his exploits during the 1927–28 season. He scored a record 60 league goals that season, when the English first division was by far the strongest football league in the world. He also scored 18 goals in 16 appearances for England. There were fewer international games in those days.

A statue of Dean was unveiled outside Goodison Park in 2001. A year later, he became one of the first 22 players inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame. Dean was the first Everton player to wear the number 9 shirt, and is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.[3][4]