Davie Dodds

David Dodds (born 23 September 1958) is a Scottish former footballer who played for Dundee United, Aberdeen and Rangers in the 1980s. With United, he was a Scottish League champion in 1983 and was in their winning 1980 Scottish League Cup final-winning team, scoring in the match. During his playing career he scored over 100 League goals. He earned two Scotland caps.

Early life and career Dodds was born and brought up in Dundee and lived close to the city's two football stadia, regularly attending both Dundee United and Dundee fixtures. He started his playing career at Celtic Boys Club, aged 9, where he was played at left-back. He made his first team debut for United against Arbroath in August 1976, scoring twice in a 3–1 victory, but it took several years for him to fully establish himself as a first team regular. During the 1977–78 season, he played several games for Arbroath on loan.

Dundee United at this time were developing into one of the strongest sides in Scotland. Despite playing in some of the earlier rounds, Dodds missed out on the Scottish League Cup final in 1979 when the club lifted their first ever major trophy, but the following year he was part of the side that defeated city rivals Dundee in the final to retain the cup. He scored United's first goal in a 3–0 victory at Dundee's Dens Park ground. with Dodds contributing 22 goals. The following season saw Dodds star in the club's run to the European Cup semi-finals.

Despite this run of success, Dodds was becoming unsettled at Dundee United. Despite the efforts of manager Jim McLean to keep the player at Tannadice, he left the club at the end of his contract in 1986. whom he had played against for Dundee United in the previous season's UEFA Cup campaign. United received a fee of £180,000. However, personal problems (his wife's postnatal depression)

As he moved into his thirties, he was featuring in the Dons first team only infrequently, but in late 1989 he was then signed for Rangers, reigning Scottish champions and Dodds' boyhood favourites.

International career Dodds scored on his international debut for Scotland in a 2–0 win over Uruguay in September 1983.

Coaching career After retiring as a player, Dodds was appointed to Rangers' coaching staff – as first team coach – and continued to be employed there until 1997, being part of the backroom staff under manager Walter Smith, his former teammate at Dundee United, during many of the club's successes in the period (six league titles, three Scottish Cups and five League Cups). After parting company with the club he decided not to seek further employment in football coaching.

Career statistics

Club

International Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Dodds goal

Honours Dundee United Scottish Premier Division: 1982–83 Scottish League Cup: 1980–81 Runners-up 1984–85Scottish Cup: Runners-up 1980–81, 1984–85

Aberdeen Scottish League Cup: Runners-up 1988–89

Rangers Scottish Premier Division:''' 1989–90