Quote:
Robin makes history
Robin van Persie's goal against Chelsea nudged him into United's top 50 all-time goalscorer rankings.
Goals: 51
Games: 84
Hat-tricks: 2
Highest season tally: 30 (2012/13)
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26/10/2014 - ManUtd.com, Ryan Grant
Van Persie joins United's top 50 scorers
Robin van Persie's dramatic stoppage-time equaliser against Chelsea on Sunday saw the striker move into Manchester United’s top 50 all-time goalscorer charts.
While the striker has regularly scored important goals for the Reds since his £24million move from Arsenal in 2012, he's reached this landmark in double-quick time – so quickly, in fact, that the Dutchman’s strike-rate reveals him to be one of the most prolific goal-getters in the club's history.
Following the landmark strike, we've picked out five of the most lethal marksmen to have pulled on the famous red shirt, and below you can view the entire top 50 scorers...
1. Tommy Taylor, 0.69 goals per game (14th top goalscorer)
Regarded by those who saw him play as the one of the finest goalscorers ever to represent the club, he was labelled by the great Alfredo Di Stefano of Real Madrid as simply 'Magnifico'. A £29,999 signing from Barnsley in 1953, his life was tragically cut short by the Munich air disaster. His record of 131 goals in 191 is astonishing.
2. Ruud van Nistelrooy, 0.68 goals per game (11)
Sir Alex Ferguson's long-term transfer target was an instant hit upon his eventual signing from PSV Eindhoven in 2001,*netting 36 goals in his debut season. The Dutchman remarkably bettered the feat the following year, scoring 44 goals to help United to the league title. He racked up 150 goals in just 219 games.
3. Dennis Viollet, 0.61 goals per game (6)
The Manchester-born striker partnered Tommy Taylor in one of the club's most memorable strike-forces, as the Reds won back-to-back titles in 1956 and 1957. Viollet's eye for goal saw him score an unmatched 32 league goals during the 1959/60 season.
4. Robin van Persie, 0.60 goals per game (48)
The Dutchman's scoring exploits in his two years at Old Trafford have already seen him join the list of the club's most prolific strikers. In his first season, United's no.20 fittingly helped the club to a historic 20th league title. His last-minute winner against Manchester City in 2012 will live long in the memory.
5. Denis Law, 0.58 goals per game (2)
The 'Holy Trinity' statue which graces the grounds at Old Trafford serves as a constant reminder of Law's impact on the club (he's also immortalised in bronze inside the Stretford End). If that wasn't enough of an indication as to his status, his 13-year spell with the Reds saw him earn the nickname 'The King'. A debut goal against West Brom in August 1962 was to be the start of a special career.