Millwall legend John Docherty no more as former manager passes away at age 84 after a prolonged battle with illness.
Millwall manager John Docherty, the legendary boss who took them to the top flight has passed away aged 84.
Docherty remains the only Lions boss in history to take the club to the top flight of English football.
Two years after replacing George Graham as manager, Docherty and his assistant manager Frank McLintock guided a team captained by Tony Cascarino and Teddy Sheringham to promotion to the former Division One in 1988.
“In almost 200 games in charge of the Lions, Docherty left a lasting legacy which, to this day, leaves him as the most successful manager in the club’s history,” Millwall said in a statement on their website., external
“Everyone at Millwall Football Club would like to pass on their condolences to John’s family and friends at this very sad time.”
Players from that iconic squad will honour “The Doc” before Saturday’s Championship match against Coventry City at The Den, the club announced.
Despite spending much of his football career south of the line in England, Docherty was born and reared in Glasgow.
Before finishing his career with Queens Park Rangers, the winger played for Sheffield United, Reading, and Brentford for three different periods.
Before transferring to Cambridge United in 1978, Docherty’s first managerial position was back at Brentford.
He took over at Millwall at the ‘Old’ Den in 1986, and at the end of the 1987–88 season, the team received its first-ever promotion to Division One.
The Lions would momentarily top the table in both seasons and spend two years in the top flight, something they haven’t done since. Shortly before relegation was officially announced, Docherty departed the team in February 1990.
In 1997, he made a brief comeback to the team in Division Two, which was the third division at the time of the Premier League’s creation in 1992.
“His last words were, ‘when’s my next match?’,” his family said in a statement on Millwall’s website.
“Of all the jobs he had, his best memories came from his time at Millwall. He loved the club and all its supporters, we will miss him dearly.”