Colin Todd

Colin Todd

Personal information
Position(s)	Central defender
Team information
Current team	Darlington (manager)

Colin Todd (born 12 December 1948) is an English football manager and former player. He is currently manager of League Two side Darlington F.C.. He was born in Chester-le-Street. His son, Andy, is also a footballer.

As a player, he is best remembered for winning two Football League titles with Derby County during the 1970s. He was capped by England on 27 occasions.

His biggest managerial success so far came in 1997 when he took Bolton Wanderers to the Division One title with 98 points and 100 goals, although he was unable to establish them in the Premier League.

Playing career

As a player, he won two league titles with Derby County in the early to mid-seventies, having made a then British record transfer fee of £175,000 when he moved there from Sunderland in 1971. When linked with Derby, Brian Clough famously remarked "We're not signing Colin Todd, we can't afford him". He then signed him that same day. Clough sent the chairman Sam Longson a telegram informing him of the signing and the size of the fee; £175,000. He formed a formidable partnership with Roy McFarland at club and country level. Well regarded in English football circles, he won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award in 1975. He also played for Sunderland, Everton, Birmingham, Nottingham Forest, and Oxford United, finally retiring from playing in 1984 after a brief spell with Luton Town. He won 27 England caps.

Managerial career

Middlesbrough

Todd entered management in March 1990 with Middlesbrough, succeeding Bruce Rioch. He had coached the club from the Third Division to First Division in successive seasons but on taking the manager's job, Middlesbrough were struggling in the Second Division and facing the real threat of moving from the Third to First Division and back again in successive seasons. Todd kept the club in the Second Division and they qualified for the play-offs a year later, although they were denied the chance of promotion after losing to eventual winners Notts County in the semi-finals and Todd quit soon afterwards.

Bolton Wanderers

He moved on to Bolton Wanderers in 1992 as assistant to his predecessor at Middlesbrough, Bruce Rioch. After Rioch left to manage Arsenal, having achieved promotion in the 1994–95 season, McFarland moved to Bolton as joint-manager alongside Todd.

Bolton struggled to cope with the Premier League and McFarland was dismissed in early 1996, leaving Todd in sole charge. He was unable to prevent Bolton's relegation but guided back to the top-flight by winning the First Division in the 1996–97 season, ensuring Bolton's new stadium would host Premier League football. Despite strengthening the squad with new signings, Bolton struggled in the top flight and were relegated again at the end of the season. Todd led the club to the play-off final in 1999 but lost to Watford, and he resigned seven games into the 1999–2000 season following the sale of Per Frandsen to Blackburn Rovers.

Swindon Town

Todd returned to management with Swindon Town. His spell at Swindon was unsuccessful as poor results meant the club faced a relegation battle when it had been hoped to gain promotion. Todd won only five out of twenty games with the club.

Derby County

Todd resigned as Swindon manager in November 2000 in order to return to Derby as assistant manager to Jim Smith. When Smith resigned in October 2001 Todd was promoted to manager but he was sacked after just three months having failed to improve the struggling club's form.

Bradford City

Todd joined Bradford City in 2003 as assistant to manager Bryan Robson. When Robson left at the end of the 2003–04 season, Todd was named his successor. It was the fourth time he had been promoted from assistant to manager. He became the longest serving Bradford manager for twenty years, and led the club to several mid-table finishes. After only winning once in ten games, Todd was sacked in February 2007. Shortly afterwards, the club was relegated to League Two and Todd pointed to the departure of key players and lack of funds for new signings as reasons for Bradford's demise.

Randers

Todd became manager of Danish side Randers FC in the summer of 2007, replacing the former Danish European champion Lars Olsen who had signed with Odense Boldklub. Todd was due to leave Randers at the end of June 2009, to be replaced by former Arsenal player John Jensen. However, in January 2009 Todd and Randers agreed to go separate ways. Jensen then took over as manager.

Darlington

Todd was announced as the new manager of League Two Darlington on 20 May 2009. He will replace former manager Dave Penney who left the club to join League One side Oldham Athletic.

Statistics

Managerial

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	L	D	Win %
Middlesbrough		9 March 1990	24 June 1991	70	28	26	16	40.00
Bolton Wanderers		20 June 1995	2 January 1996	28	5	16	7	17.86
Bolton Wanderers		2 January 1996	22 September 1999	183	79	51	53	43.17
Swindon Town		4 May 2000	1 November 2000	20	5	9	6	25.00
Derby County		8 October 2001	14 January 2002	17	4	11	2	23.53
Bradford City		18 June 2004	12 February 2007	139	44	49	46	31.65
Randers FC		18 June 2007	12 January 2009	57	22	18	17	38.6
Darlington		20 May 2009	Present	0	0	0	0	0

Honours

As a Player

Derby County

• First Division (level 1)
  • Champions: 1972, 1975

• European Champion Clubs' Cup
  • Semi-Finalists: 1973

• FA Charity Shield
  • Winners: 1975

• Texaco Cup
  • Winners: 1972

• Watney Cup
  • Winners: 1971

Oxford United

• Second Division Champions 1984–85

Individual

• PFA Players' Player of the Year: 1974–75

As a Manager

• 1996–97: Division 1 Champion (promotion to The Premiership) - Bolton Wanderers

External links

• bbc.co.uk Biography
• Colin Todd management career statistics at Soccerbase