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Former Manchester United and Scotland manager Tommy Docherty has died at the age of 92 after a long illness, his family announced in a statement.
Docherty, known as ‘The Doc’, led 12 clubs, including Chelsea, Aston Villa and Derby, during a 27-year coaching career.
He was also in charge of Scotland, but was best known for his five-year spell at Old Trafford, where he oversaw an FA Cup final victory over Bob Paisley’s Liverpool in 1977.
Docherty died at his home in the northwest on December 31.
A spokesperson for the family said in a statement: “Tommy passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his home.
“He was a very beloved husband, father and father and will be greatly missed.
“We ask that our privacy be respected at this time. There will be no further comment.”
3:26
Sky Sports News reporter James Cooper reflects on Docherty’s life and career
Docherty presided over United’s relegation to the Second Division in 1974, their first stint outside the top flight in 36 years, but returned them to the First Division as champions in 1975, before winning the FA Cup two years later.
A United statement on Twitter read: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tommy Docherty, who led us to the FA Cup victory in 1977 with an exciting and attacking team in the best Manchester United traditions.
“Everyone at the club sends their deepest condolences to Tommy’s loved ones.”
Docherty made a name for himself as a manager at Chelsea, where he became a player-manager in 1961 before becoming a full-time manager when he ended his playing career a year later.
He led the club back to the First Division in 1963 and won the League Cup in 1965, and was also responsible for introducing Bobby Tambling and Peter Bonetti, who would become Chelsea legends, to the team.
Docherty was also in charge of Porto between 1970 and 1971, and was coach in Australia towards the end of his career.
Before becoming a coach, Glasgow-born Docherty began his playing career at Celtic before moving to Preston, where he won the Second Division in 1951 and reached the FA Cup final in 1954.
A tweet from Preston read: “Everyone at Preston North End is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former player and coach Tommy Docherty, who made more than 300 appearances for the club.
“Our thoughts are with Tommy’s loved ones at this sad time.”
Docherty gave Man Utd fans what they wanted
Sammy McIlroy, who was part of the Docherty FA Cup and Second Division winning teams at Manchester United, paid tribute to his former coach.
3:43
Sammy McIlroy believes that Manchester United’s successes in the 1970s were due to Tommy Docherty, a man he calls ‘an amazing guy’
He said Sky Sports News: “He was an amazing guy. He was very witty, always, always joking, always talking about football. It was a great pleasure at that time to be in his company, around the 70s when he had just broken into the side.
“For about four or five years we were an incredible team and it was all down to The Doc. It took him a little while to get what he wanted, but when he got the team we had a very, very offensive mentality. The fans loved the Manchester United.
2:38
Tommy Docherty was larger than life and made the Manchester United locker room believe in themselves, says former Scottish striker Lou Macari
“[He] He played how Manchester United fans wanted the team to play. It was brought in with the great Sir Matt Busby, with wingers, all attacked, all defended. If the opposition scored two, we scored three.
“We would never, ever talk about the opposition, it was always about how Manchester United wants to play. The words he used the most in his team talks were ‘please the fans, excite the fans’.
“And we did that, it was all due to the way he played. 100 percent commitment, but the main thing was to enjoy and please the fans.”
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