Celebrated manager mourned
LONDON: Former Manchester United and Scotland manager Tommy Docherty, popularly known as ‘‘The Doc’’, has died, age 92, after a long illness, his family announced yesterday.
The muchtravelled Docherty managed 12 clubs — including Chelsea and Aston Villa and a stint in Australia — after a playing career that included 25 caps for Scotland from 195159 and more than 300 games at Preston North End.
‘‘We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tommy Docherty, who led us to FA Cup victory in 1977 with a thrilling, attacking team in the best traditions of Manchester United,’’ United said on Twitter.
Docherty was at Old Trafford from 197277, replacing Frank O’Farrell; the 21 FA Cup final victory over Bob Paisley’s Liverpool was a highlight along with winning the second division title.
The Glaswegian was sacked in 1977 after an affair with the wife of the United physio, whom he went on to marry.
His departure saw flair replaced with more dour fare under replacement Dave Sexton.
‘‘For about four to five years, we were an unbelievable side and that was all down to The Doc,’’ former United player Sammy McIlroy told Sky Sports news.
‘‘It took him a little bit of time to get what he wanted, but when he got the team, we were very, very attackminded. The fans loved it at Manchester United.
‘‘If the opposition scored two, we scored three . . . the words he used most in his team talks were ‘please the fans, excite the fans’.’’
Docherty was also famed for his ready wit and acerbic oneliners, joking he had had more clubs than golfer Jack Nicklaus.
‘‘He said he was right behind me so I told him I’d rather have him in front where I could see him,’’ he once said of the late Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis, who sacked him in 1970.
The Scottish FA said in a statement it was deeply saddened by the passing of a man who had ‘‘a profound impact on the game’’. — Reuters