View source for Bobby Murdoch

{{Short description|Scottish footballer (1944–2001)}}
{{for|the Liverpool F.C. footballer|Bobby Murdoch (footballer, born 1936)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Bobby Murdoch
| full_name = Robert White Murdoch<ref>{{Hugman|14233|access-date=21 June 2017}}</ref>
| image = Perfumo racing 1967.jpg
| caption = Murdoch (left) shaking hands with [[Roberto Perfumo]] prior to the second match of the [[1967 Intercontinental Cup]]
| birth_date = 17 August 1944
| birth_place = [[Bothwell]], Scotland
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2001|5|15|1944|8|17}}
| death_place = [[Glasgow]], Scotland
| height = 5 ft 10 in<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball0000unse_x5p3/mode/2up |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook: 1976–77 |date=1976 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |isbn=978-0-362-00259-1 |editor-last=Vernon |editor-first=Leslie |location=London |pages=254 |editor-last2=Rollin |editor-first2=Jack}}</ref>
| position = [[Midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = 
| years1 = 1959–1973
| clubs1 = [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
| caps1 = 291
| goals1 = 61
| years2 = 1959–1961
| clubs2 = → [[Cambuslang Rangers F.C.|Cambuslang Rangers]] (loan)
| years3 = 1973–1976
| clubs3 = [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
| caps3 = 95
| goals3 = 6
| totalcaps = 386
| totalgoals = 67
| manageryears1 = 1981–1982
| managerclubs1 = [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
| nationalyears1 = 1964<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/scotlandu23/player.php?playerid=103
|title=Scotland U23 profile|publisher=Fitbastats.com|access-date=27 April 2017}}</ref>
| nationalteam1 = [[Scotland national under-23 football team|Scotland U23]]
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1965–1969
| nationalteam2 = [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]
| nationalcaps2 = 12
| nationalgoals2 = 6
| nationalyears3 = 1965–1969
| nationalteam3 = [[Scottish League XI]]
| nationalcaps3 = 5
| nationalgoals3 = 0
}}
'''Robert White Murdoch''' (17 August 1944 – 15 May 2001) was a Scottish professional [[association football|footballer]], who played as a [[midfielder]] for [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]], [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] and [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]. Murdoch was one of the [[Lisbon Lions]], the Celtic team who won the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] in [[1967 European Cup final|1967]]. He later also managed Middlesbrough.

== Club career ==
=== Celtic ===
Brought up in [[Rutherglen]], he lived there for most of his life and attended local St. Columbkillle's Primary school (a classmate was [[Tommy McAvoy]] who went on to become the long-serving [[Rutherglen (UK Parliament constituency)|MP for the area]]),<ref name="plaque">{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/celtic-legend-bobby-murdoch-honoured-9063246|title=Celtic legend Bobby Murdoch honoured at Rutherglen Town Hall|date=17 October 2016|publisher=Daily Record|access-date=16 December 2016}}</ref> before moving to [[Our Lady's High School, Motherwell|Our Lady's High Secondary]] in Motherwell. Murdoch first joined Celtic in 1959, earning £3 per week as a part-time player while also being employed as a sheet-metal worker.<ref name = "bbc obit"/> He played for [[Scottish Junior Football Association|junior club]] [[Cambuslang Rangers F.C.|Cambuslang Rangers]] for two years to gain experience before joining Celtic as a full-time professional.<ref name = "bbc obit"/>

Murdoch initially played for Celtic as an [[forward (association football)|inside right]], but only showed signs of being a reasonable performer in that position.<ref name = "crampsey"/> This was in a period where players were not well developed by Celtic due to a lack of quality coaching.<ref name = "crampsey"/> [[Jock Stein]] moved Murdoch to [[wing half|right half]] soon after he was appointed Celtic manager in 1965.<ref name = "bbc obit"/> With that simple action, Murdoch was the first player to significantly benefit from Stein's arrival.<ref name = "crampsey"/> Playing in the deeper position allowed Murdoch to use his long passing ability more effectively.<ref name = "crampsey"/> He still continued to score a handful of goals a season, knocking in shots from cutbacks by [[Bertie Auld]] or [[Jimmy Johnstone]].<ref name = "crampsey"/>

During his time at Celtic, he won eight [[List of Scottish football champions|Scottish League]] titles, four [[Scottish Cup]]s and five [[Scottish League Cup|League Cup]]s, as well as the [[1967 European Cup Final]] winners' medal.<ref name = "crampsey"/> Murdoch's shot was deflected by [[Stevie Chalmers]] to score Celtic's winning goal.<ref name = "bbc obit"/><ref name = "crampsey"/><ref name=touch>[https://books.google.com/books?id=lQLvTjIVGqsC&dq=%22neil+duffy%22+%22partick+thistle&pg=PT18 The Winning Touch: My Autobiography], Stevie Chalmers, Graham McColl; Hachette UK, 2012; {{ISBN|9780755363230}}</ref> Murdoch also played in the [[1970 European Cup Final]], when Celtic lost 2–1 to [[Feyenoord]]. In total, he made over 500 appearances for Celtic and scored approximately 100 goals.<ref name = "bbc obit"/>

His later years with Celtic were marked with injury problems, as Murdoch had difficulty maintaining his weight at a correct level.<ref name = "crampsey"/> His importance to the success of a great Celtic team was such that when [[Jock Stein]] was asked when he thought Celtic might win the European Cup again he replied "when Bobby Murdoch is fit".{{Citation needed|date=August 2010}} Stein also credited Murdoch with being "just about the best player I had as a manager".<ref name = "bbc obit"/> Murdoch was voted [[SFWA Footballer of the Year|Scottish player of the year]] in 1969 by the football writers.<ref name = "bbc obit">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/1332240.stm|title=Bobby Murdoch: An obituary|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=15 May 2001|access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref> Stein allowed Murdoch to leave the club because he had "run out of challenges" at Celtic.<ref name = "bbc obit"/>

=== Middlesbrough ===
Murdoch left Celtic in 1973 and joined [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] on a [[Free transfer (association football)|free transfer]] as [[Jack Charlton]]'s first signing.<ref name ="Guardian">[https://www.theguardian.com/news/2001/may/17/guardianobituaries.football Obituary: Bobby Murdoch (The Guardian, 2001)]</ref> He provided advice to the young [[Graeme Souness]] and the club was promoted to Division One in his first season there.<ref name = "bbc obit"/> He made 125 appearances for Middlesbrough before his playing retirement in 1976.<ref name = "bbc obit"/> Murdoch then took up the role of coaching Middlesbrough youth players.<ref name = "bbc obit"/> He had a brief, unsuccessful, spell as manager of Middlesbrough between 1981 and 1982.<ref name = "bbc obit"/> Murdoch left the club shortly after it was relegated to Division Two.<ref name = "bbc obit"/> His job at Middlesbrough had been made difficult by the fact that the club had sold star players such as [[Craig Johnston]], [[David Armstrong (footballer, born 1954)|David Armstrong]] and [[Mark Proctor (footballer)|Mark Proctor]]<ref>[http://www.mfc.co.uk/news/article/manager-murdoch-1711836.aspx Middlesbrough FC manager profile - Bobby Murdoch]</ref>

==International career==

Murdoch won a total of 12 [[cap (sport)|caps]] for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]], having to compete for selection with [[Jim Baxter]] and then [[Billy Bremner]] among others.<ref name = "crampsey"/> His debut was in a 1–0 victory against [[Italy national football team|Italy]] on 9 October 1965 during [[1966 FIFA World Cup qualification]]. His first two international goals came in his second cap, a 4–1 [[British Home Championship]] victory against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] in the same month. He scored six international goals in total, including the equaliser in a 1–1 draw against [[West Germany national football team|West Germany]] in [[1970 FIFA World Cup qualification]].<ref name="int70res">[https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/scot-intres1970.html "Scotland - International Matches 1966-1970"]</ref><ref name = "Guardian"/>

==Style of play==

A physically strong player who originally started out as an inside right, Murdoch flourished as a playmaker in the midfield under the leadership of Celtic manager [[Jock Stein]], with teammate [[Bertie Auld]] as his partner. Murdoch was known for his accurate and precise passing of the ball, either short or long, that split opponents' defences. Aside from his accurate passing, Murdoch possessed great technique and control, could tackle and was able to shoot and pass with either foot.

Fellow Celtic player [[Jim Craig (Scottish footballer)|Jim Craig]] noted Murdoch's influence on Celtic's efficiency as a team, stating: "When Bobby Murdoch played, the whole Celtic team played."<ref>Driving heart of the Lions; Hugh McIlvanney, The Sunday Times, May 20, 2001</ref> Although talented, Murdoch struggled with injuries and weight problems.

==Later life, death and legacy==
Murdoch had an unsuccessful spell as a publican that ended in debt.<ref name = "bbc obit"/> In 1995, Murdoch won a legal case in a Medical Appeal Tribunal that an ankle injury he had sustained playing for Celtic was an [[industrial injury]], entitling him to compensation from the state.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/lisbon-lion-s-compensation-victory-could-open-floodgates-for-former-players-ex-footballer-wins-injury-at-work-claim-1.664790|title=Lisbon Lion's compensation victory could open floodgates for former players Ex-footballer wins injury at work claim |first=Cameron|last=Simpson|work=The Herald|publisher=Herald & Times Group|access-date=2 December 2011|date=26 August 1995}}</ref> In his last years he had a role helping at [[Celtic Park]] with match-day hospitality.<ref name = "bbc obit"/>

He died, aged 56, following a [[stroke]], in the [[Glasgow Victoria Infirmary]]. He was survived by Kathleen – his wife since 1964 – and by a daughter and two sons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/1337447.stm|title=Final farewells to Celtic great|work=[[BBC News]]|date=18 May 2001|access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref> Murdoch was the first of the [[Lisbon Lions]] to die.<ref name = "crampsey">{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/bobby-murdoch-wing-half-with-the-lisbon-lions-who-brought-a-true-blend-of-strength-and-subtlety-to-his-involvement-in-the-beautiful-game-1.187560|title=Bobby Murdoch Wing-half with the Lisbon Lions who brought a true blend of strength and subtlety to his involvement in the beautiful game|first=Bob|last=Crampsey|author-link=Bob Crampsey|work=The Herald|publisher=Herald & Times Group|date=16 May 2001|access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref> In 2016 his contribution was recognised with the unveiling of a plaque listing his achievements at the [[Rutherglen Town Hall|town hall]] in his hometown of Rutherglen; the ceremony was attended by family members, local dignitaries and former teammates.<ref name="plaque"/>

Murdoch's younger brothers [[Billy Murdoch (footballer)|Billy]] and James were also footballers; Billy was a reserve player at Celtic while Bobby was in the first team, and later played for [[Stenhousemuir F.C.|Stenhousemuir]] and [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]]. James aka Jimmy was also on Celtic's books as a youth before signing provisionally with [[Cardiff City]], and played at Junior level for [[Cumbernauld United]].<ref name="quality">{{cite book|last=Dykes|first=Paul John|title=The Quality Street Gang|year=2013|publisher=Celtic FC Ltd|asin=B00GB86E0U}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottish-football-historical-archive.co.uk/Trans69.doc|title=1969 Transfers|publisher=Scottish football Historical Archive|access-date=22 February 2017}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[Scottish Cup]], [[FA Cup]].}}
!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[Scottish League Cup]], [[Football League Cup]].}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other{{efn|Includes [[Glasgow Cup]] (several years), the [[1967 Intercontinental Cup|1967–68 Intercontinental Cup]] and [[Drybrough Cup|1972–73 Drybrough Cup]].}}
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="13"|[[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/player.php?playerid=2659|title=Celtic player Bobby Murdoch|publisher=Fitbastats.com|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref>
|[[1962–63 in Scottish football|1962–63]]
|rowspan="12"|[[Scottish Division One]]
|19||4||6||5||6||2||0||0||3||3||34||14
|-
|[[1963–64 in Scottish football|1963–64]]
|26||15||3||1||3||0||7||3||5||2||44||21
|-
|[[1964–65 in Scottish football|1964–65]]
|32||8||6||0||9||5||4||2||3||1||54||16
|-
|[[1965–66 in Scottish football|1965–66]]
|31||5||7||2||11||2||8||2||0||0||57||11
|-
|[[1966–67 in Scottish football|1966–67]]
|31||4||4||2||10||2||9||0||3||0||57||8
|-
|[[1967–68 in Scottish football|1967–68]]
|34||6||1||0||9||2||2||0||4||1||50||9
|-
|[[1968–69 in Scottish football|1968–69]]
|30||4||7||2||8||1||5||1||0||0||50||8
|-
|[[1969–70 in Scottish football|1969–70]]
|26||5||5||0||6||0||7||1||2||0||46||6
|-
|[[1970–71 in Scottish football|1970–71]]
|23||2||1||0||8||0||4||2||2||1||38||5
|-
|[[1971–72 in Scottish football|1971–72]]
|15||4||6||1||6||0||6||0||0||0||33||5
|-
|[[1972–73 in Scottish football|1972–73]]
|24||4||7||0||7||3||2||0||3||0||43||7
|-
|[[1973–74 in Scottish football|1973–74]]
|0||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!291!!61!!53!!13!!84!!17!!54!!11!!25!!8!!507!!110
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.11v11.com/players/bobby-murdoch-35720/team/middlesbrough/#clubmatches|title=Bobby Murdoch, Middlesbrough matches|publisher=11v11.com|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref>
|[[1973–74 in English football|1973–74]]
|[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]
|34||5||2||0||3||0||0||0||0||0||39||5
|-
|[[1974–75 in English football|1974–75]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|39||1||4||1||4||0||0||0||0||0||47||2
|-
|[[1975–76 in English football|1975–76]]
|22||0||1||0||6||0||0||0||0||0||29||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!95!!6!!7!!1!!13!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!115!!7
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!386!!67!!60!!14!!97!!17!!54!!11!!25!!8!!622!!117
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="fitbastats Sco">{{cite web|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/scotland/player.php?playerid=775|title=Scotland player Robert W. Murdoch|publisher=Fitbastats.com|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]
|1965||3||2
|-
|1966||2||1
|-
|1967||1||0
|-
|1968||1||2
|-
|1969||5||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!12!!6
|}

:''Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Murdoch goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Bobby Murdoch<ref name = "fitbastats Sco"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/scot-intres1970.html|title=Scotland - International Matches 1966-1970|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=18 December 2016}}</ref>
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| style="text-align:center"|1 || rowspan="2"|24 November 1965 || rowspan="2"|[[Hampden Park]], [[Glasgow]], Scotland || rowspan="2"|{{fb|WAL}} || style="text-align:center"|1–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|4–1 || rowspan="2"|[[1965–66 British Home Championship]]
|-
| style="text-align:center"|2 || style="text-align:center"|3–1
|-
| style="text-align:center"|3 || 16 November 1966 || Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland || {{fb|NIR}} || style="text-align:center"|1–1 || style="text-align:center"|2–1 || [[1966–67 British Home Championship]]/[[UEFA Euro 1968 qualifying##Group 8|Euro 1968 Qualifiers]]
|-
| style="text-align:center"|4 || rowspan="2"|11 December 1968 || rowspan="2"|[[GSP Stadium]], [[Nicosia]], Cyprus || rowspan="2"|{{fb|CYP}} || style="text-align:center"|2–0 || rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|5–0 || rowspan="2"|[[1970 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)#Group 7|1970 World Cup Qualifiers]]
|-
| style="text-align:center"|5 || style="text-align:center"|4–0
|-
| style="text-align:center"|6 || 16 April 1969 || Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland || {{fb|West Germany}} || style="text-align:center"|1–1 || style="text-align:center"|1–1 || 1970 World Cup Qualifiers
|}

==Honours==
'''Celtic'''
* [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]: [[1966–67 European Cup|1966–67]]; runner-up [[1969–70 European Cup|1969–70]]
* [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]: runner-up [[1967 Intercontinental Cup|1967]]
* [[List of Scottish football champions|Scottish League Championship]]: [[1965–66 Scottish Division One|1965–66]], [[1966–67 Scottish Division One|1966–67]], [[1967–68 Scottish Division One|1967–68]], [[1968–69 Scottish Division One|1968–69]], [[1969–70 Scottish Division One|1969–70]], [[1970–71 Scottish Division One|1970–71]], [[1971-72 Scottish Division One|1971–72]], [[1972-73 Scottish Division One|1972–73]]
* [[Scottish Cup]]: [[1964–65 Scottish Cup|1964–65]], [[1966–67 Scottish Cup|1966–67]], [[1968–69 Scottish Cup|1968–69]], [[1970–71 Scottish Cup|1970–71]], [[1971–72 Scottish Cup|1971–72]]
* [[Scottish League Cup]]: [[1965–66 Scottish League Cup|1965–66]], [[1966–67 Scottish League Cup|1966–67]], [[1967–68 Scottish League Cup|1967–68]], [[1968–69 Scottish League Cup|1968–69]], [[1969–70 Scottish League Cup|1969–70]]
* [[Glasgow Cup]]: 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70

'''Middlesbrough'''
* [[Football League Second Division]]: [[1973–74 Football League#Second Division|1973–74]]

'''Scotland'''
* [[British Home Championship]]: [[1966–67 British Home Championship|1966–67]]

'''Individual'''
*[[SFWA Footballer of the Year|Scottish Football Writers' Player of the Year]]: [[1968–69 in Scottish football|1968–69]]
*[[Scottish Football Hall of Fame]]: posthumous inductee 2004

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{NeilBrownPlayers|player/bobbymurdoch1}}
*[http://celticunderground.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=320:celtic-underground-podcast-92-kathleen-murdoch&catid=34:audio&Itemid=58 Interview with Bobby Murdoch's wife Kathleen]
*{{SFA profile}}
*[http://scottishfootballhalloffame.co.uk/bobby-murdoch-1944-2001/ Scottish Football Hall of Fame profile]

{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|fg=navy
|bg=gold
|list1=
{{SFWA Footballer of the Year}}
{{Scottish Football Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Middlesbrough F.C. managers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Murdoch, Bobby}}
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:Scottish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Scottish football managers]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League players]]
[[Category:Scottish Junior Football Association players]]
[[Category:Scottish Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Scotland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Celtic F.C. players]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. players]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Scottish Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Footballers from Rutherglen]]
[[Category:People educated at Our Lady's High School, Motherwell]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League representative players]]
[[Category:Cambuslang Rangers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Scotland men's under-23 international footballers]]
[[Category:Sheet metal workers]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish sportsmen]]