Former Manchester United manager Tommy Docherty dies aged 92

Ex-Preston player passes away after a long illness

Former Manchester United manager and Preston North End player Tommy Docherty has died aged 92. AP

Former Manchester United and Scotland manager Tommy Docherty has died at the age of 92 following a long illness, his family announced.

Docherty, who was known as 'The Doc', made more than 300 appearances for Preston, also playing for Celtic, Arsenal and Chelsea, and won 25 caps for Scotland.

He went on to manage 12 clubs – including Chelsea, Aston Villa and Derby – and had a spell in charge of Scotland.

He won the League Cup as Chelsea boss but was best known for his five-year spell at Old Trafford, overseeing an FA Cup final win over Bob Paisley's Liverpool in 1977.

"Tommy passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at home," a family spokesman was quoted as saying by the Press Association.

"He was a much-loved husband, father and papa and will be terribly missed."

Scottish Football Association president Rod Petrie said on the organisation’s website: “Football has lost a tremendous personality in Tommy Docherty. He was tenacious on the park and a great leader off it.

“Tommy was a regular in the Scotland side in the 1950s that qualified for two World Cups, and his record as Scotland manager was impressive, albeit cut short by his decision to take the Manchester United job.”

Docherty was irrepressible, outspoken and often controversial, accruing a seemingly endless supply of anecdotes, quips and one-liners.

In December 1972, with Scotland on their way to the 1974 World Cup finals in West Germany, he quit as manager to take over at Manchester United.

"One of my biggest regrets was leaving the Scotland job when I did," he later said.

The Red Devils were relegated to the second division in 1974, but stormed back the next season as champions.

After surprisingly losing the 1976 FA Cup final 1-0 to second division Southampton, he led United to the FA Cup final again the following year when they beat favourites Liverpool 2-1.

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