Forgotten Aston Villa star has cult status and babies named after him for what he did vs Man Utd

Forgotten Aston Villa star Marcus Allback may not be a name thought of all too often by Villains supporters, but the striker is permanently plastered on the body of some football lovers.

The 50-year-old retired from professional football in 2011 having spent two years at Villa Park between 2002 and 2004, but spent the majority of his career at Swedish side Orgryte IS in Sweden. Allback joined the Midlands side for £2 million in 2002 and went on to rack up 44 appearances for the club, but failed to make a huge impact with Darius Vassell and Juan Pablo Angel preferred up top.

Allback did bag seven goals for Aston Villa over that time, including a memorable home brace against Chelsea in 2003 before joining German Hansa Rostock at the end of his contract in 2004.

The former striker has hit the headlines again this week, not due to his Aston Villa spell, but for a 'crappy' goal he bagged for FC Copenhagen against Manchester United in 2006.

The Red Devils met the Danish side in the Champions League Group Stage this week and Allback told the story of his goal in that shock 1-0 triumph to The Sun. He said: “To get a first goal and first points in the Champions League against the giants of Man United was massive. I still get recognised in Denmark, largely because of that goal. It was a big moment for football in Denmark.

“It was my only chance in the game. The ball came across and I was going to volley it but missed it, then scored with the second attempt after Edwin van der Sar went down. I’d hardly had a touch and it was a crappy goal but nobody cared. You don’t get remembered for how it was scored.

“Cristiano Ronaldo had a goal disallowed and a draw was a fair result but we held on and the celebrations were amazing. I can remember it so clearly and it’s always talked about when I go to Denmark."

Allback went on to tell the remarkable story of how that goal was so important to one fan that it led to her child being named after the ex-Villain. He said: “I had a really good story two or three years ago when I was back in Copenhagen for a game and a lady and her son came up to me asking for a photo in the street. She explained she was pregnant when she was at the game against United and decided to name her son Marcus when he was born for that reason.

“It was a little bit surreal that happened in honour of my crappy goal!”

Allback thinks Copenhagen can see off United once again tonight and gain revenge for a 1-0 loss at Old Trafford last month."