Tommy Docherty

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Docherty began his playing career with junior club Shettleston. After national service in the Highland Light Infantry, he signed for Celtic in 1947. In November 1949 he moved to Preston North End, winning the 1951 Second Division title and reaching the 1954 FA Cup final. He joined Arsenal in August 1958 for £28,000, then ended his playing career at Chelsea in 1962. He earned 25 Scotland caps, scoring once in a 7–2 defeat by England in 1955, and was part of the 1954 and 1958 World Cup squads. As manager, he took charge of Chelsea in February 1961 as player-coach, becoming manager less than twelve months later after Ted Drake's departure. He could not prevent relegation at the end of the 1961–62 season. He rebuilt the squad with players such as Terry Venables, Bobby Tambling, Peter Bonetti and Barry Bridges, changed the club's home colours to blue shorts, and led Chelsea to promotion at the first attempt. In 1964–65 Chelsea won the League Cup and finished third in the league. Docherty led Chelsea to FA Cup and Inter-Cities Fairs Cup semi-finals in 1966, and the 1967 FA Cup final, which they lost to Tottenham Hotspur. He resigned in October 1967. He later managed Rotherham United, Queens Park Rangers (for 29 days), Aston Villa, Porto, Hull City as assistant manager, and the Scotland national team. He managed Manchester United from December 1972 to July 1977, overseeing relegation to the Second Division and immediate promotion as champions, as well as FA Cup final appearances in 1976 and 1977, winning the latter against Liverpool. He was sacked after his extramarital affair became public. He later managed Derby County, Queens Park Rangers again, Sydney Olympic, Preston North End, South Melbourne, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

In Their Own Story

The turning point for Chelsea came after Docherty took over as manager less than twelve months into his tenure, following Ted Drake's departure while the club faced relegation. Unable to keep them in the First Division that first year, he spent the off-season reshaping the squad entirely. He sold older veterans and signed new stars like Peter Osgood, Charlie Cooke, Ron Harris, Bonetti, and John Hollins. The core of this team went on to win the FA Cup and Cup Winners' Cup under his successor, Dave Sexton. Docherty resigned in October 1967, leaving behind a legacy of renewed ambition and a distinct style that had propelled the club from near-disaster to cup finals.

Reader's Guide

Docherty's managerial career spanned 13 clubs and the Scotland national team. At Chelsea, he took over as manager less than twelve months after becoming player-coach in February 1961, and the team was relegated at the end of the 1961–62 season. He rebuilt the squad and achieved promotion in the first attempt. At Manchester United, he managed relegation and immediate promotion, and won the 1977 FA Cup. His later managerial stints included brief spells at several clubs.

Did You Know?

• Docherty was known as 'The Doc'.
• He played for the British Army while completing national service.
• He scored his only Scotland goal in a 7–2 defeat by England in 1955.
• He changed Chelsea's home colours from white shorts to blue shorts.
• He was sacked as Manchester United manager after his affair with the wife of the club's physiotherapist became public.