OTD: TERRY BUTCHER APPOINTED

On this day in 1993, Terry Butcher was appointed manager of Sunderland. He managed 45 games for the club, winning just 14.

The defender began his career at Ipswich Town, making his debut in April 1978. Over eight years with the Tractor Boys, Butcher established himself as one of the league’s top defenders. He was a great leader, and made over 350 appearances at Ipswich, winning the UEFA Cup in 1981.

His club form earned him an England call-up under Ron Greenwood in 1980 and he was playing in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final where Maradona scored the “Goal of the Century”. Following an injury to Brian Robson, Butcher took over as captain of his country during the 1990 World Cup, where England reached the semi-final. He eventually retired from international football after the tournament with 77 caps to his name and the pride of wearing the armband.

Domestically, Ipswich were relegated in 1986, although Butcher won their Player of the Year award for the second consecutive season. He went on to sign for Rangers, with new manager Graeme Souness paying £725,000 for his services. As captain of the Scottish side, Butcher won three Scottish League titles in four seasons, as well as two League Cups. Making 176 appearances in total, Butcher’s last game in Scotland came in a 2-1 defeat to Dundee, being dropped after the match due to being partly responsible for both goals.

He went to Coventry City as player-manager, retiring as a player after one season making six appearances. The following season, in 1991/92, Butcher was a full-time manager and achieved impressive results such as a 5-0 hammering of Luton Town and a shock 2-1 win over Arsenal. However, results dipped massively and Butcher was dismissed in January 1992, with Coventry just six points above the relegation zone in the First Division.

Butcher re-registered himself as a player in August 1992, when Malcom Crosby brought him to Wearside at the recommendation of assistant manager Bobby Ferguson. Sunderland were in the First Division, the second tier of English football now after the formation of the Premier League. He was an experienced head to help us push for promotion, but Crosby was soon sacked despite reaching the FA Cup final the previous year.

Butcher became player-manager due to his prior experience as a manager but failed to turn around the team’s form. The Lads finished four places behind their position when Crosby left, surviving on the last day due to other teams’ results.

Despite poor form, Butcher was given a £2 million war chest which was spent on the likes of Andy Melville, Derek Ferguson, Phil Gray and Ian Rodgerson. However, the signings got off to a fairly poor start as they were all involved in a car accident which left them injured for varying amounts of time.

After a very poor start to the season, Sunderland were sat in 20th by November 1993, just one point above the relegation zone. Everything came to a head a day before the Lads were set to face Nottingham Forest, with the press gathered around Roker Park claiming that the club’s directors were in the boardroom, planning a new manager.

Butcher infamously claimed that: “If I’ve been dismissed, then I must have missed it”. An hour later, with his tail between his legs, Butcher came and announced to the press that himself and his assistant Ian Atkins were no longer employed at Sunderland. Although there was no official statement from the club itself! It was later revealed that Bob Murray had resigned as chairman, with his last act in charge being the sacking of Butcher on the 26th November.

After Sunderland, he became a journeyman manager. He spent time in the dugout at Motherwell, Sydney FC, Partick Thistle (as caretaker), Brentford, Inverness Caledonian Thistle (where he won a Scottish First Division title), Hibernian, Newport County and finally the Philippines national team in 2018. Since retiring from playing, he's been inducted into the Rangers and Ipswich Halls of Fame and also the Scottish and English Football Halls of Fame.