Colin Todd

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Todd's playing career began at Sunderland, where he made his debut as a substitute for Charlie Hurley in a 1–1 draw away against Chelsea on 10 September 1966. He missed only three league games in the next three seasons, making 191 appearances and scoring three goals before rejoining Brian Clough at Derby County in February 1971. Derby paid a British record transfer fee for a defender of £175,000. Clough famously remarked 'We're not signing Colin Todd, we can't afford him' before signing him that same day. Todd formed a defensive partnership with Roy McFarland, winning the First Division title in his first full season and a second title under Dave Mackay in 1975. He won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award in 1975, the same year as his second league title. He later played for Everton, Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest, and Oxford United, retiring in 1984 after a brief spell with Luton Town.

In Their Own Story

In February 1971, Brian Clough sent a telegram to Derby County chairman Sam Longson informing him of the signing of Colin Todd and the size of the fee: £175,000. Just days earlier, Clough had told reporters 'We're not signing Colin Todd, we can't afford him.' The young defender had already made 191 appearances for Sunderland, where he had been a member of the youth team coached by Clough in 1965 and played a major part in Sunderland's 1967 FA Youth Cup victory. Now reunited with his former mentor, Todd would go on to form a legendary defensive partnership with Roy McFarland, winning two league titles and earning the PFA Players' Player of the Year award in 1975.

Reader's Guide

Colin Todd's managerial career began in March 1990 with Middlesbrough, succeeding Bruce Rioch. He kept the club in the Second Division and they qualified for the play-offs a year later, though they lost to eventual winners Notts County in the semi-finals and Todd resigned. He moved to Bolton Wanderers in 1992 as assistant to Bruce Rioch, then became joint-manager with Roy McFarland after Rioch left. When McFarland was dismissed in early 1996, Todd took sole charge. He guided Bolton back to the top-flight by winning the First Division in the 1996–97 season with 98 points and 100 goals, though he was unable to establish them in the Premier League. He later managed Swindon Town, Derby County, Bradford City, Darlington, and Danish sides Randers FC and Esbjerg fB. At Randers, he replaced Lars Olsen and later left in January 2009. At Darlington, he agreed with chairman Raj Singh that he would leave if they failed to win their ninth game against Grimsby Town; they drew 1–1 and Todd left the club.

Did You Know?

• Todd made his debut as a substitute for Charlie Hurley in a 1–1 draw away against Chelsea on 10 September 1966.
• Brian Clough remarked 'We're not signing Colin Todd, we can't afford him' before signing him the same day for a British record fee for a defender of £175,000.
• Todd won the PFA Players' Player of the Year award in 1975, the same year he won his second league title with Derby County.
• He took Bolton Wanderers to the Division One title with 98 points and 100 goals in the 1996–97 season.
• Todd underwent a bypass operation in February 2014 while managing Randers FC, missing the first five games of the spring season.