Born on this day in Chester-Le-Street is former manager and Sunderland player Colin Todd. The defender played under the legendary Brian Clough during his time in Sunderland’s youth team, and would go on to become an England international after leaving SAFC for Clough's Derby...
Todd made his debut as a substitute in a 1-1 draw at Chelsea, replacing Sunderland legend “The King” Charlie Hurley. He quickly established himself in the first team despite being just 17, and throughout the years became known as one of Sunderland’s best players of the 60s.
In the next three seasons, the defender missed just three games, becoming ever-present at the back. Sunderland were struggling in Division One though, and were relegated in the 1969/70 season. Todd stayed on Wearside for another half-season, before re-joining his former youth coach Cloughie at Derby County.
The transfer cost Derby a British record fee of £175,000, with Clough famously claiming “We’re not signing Colin Todd, we can’t afford him” before announcing the signing on the same day!
Todd became more well-known for his success with Derby, even breaking into the England squad alongside fellow Derby defender Roy McFarland. In his first full season with The Rams, he was a crucial figure in winning the First Division. Following the controversial resignation of Clough in 1973, Dave Mackay took over as manager. Todd won the First Division for a second time, this time under the Scotsman in 1975, winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in the same season.
Later in Todd’s career, he played for Everton, Birmingham, Nottingham Forest and Oxford, before retiring in 1984 after a brief spell with Luton.
As a manager, the former defender had taken charge of the likes of Middlesbrough and Bolton among others, before managing his final club Esbjerg after leaving Reading in 2016.
