The last guy to lead a Scottish team to the European Cup semifinal is 67 years old and rises at 5 a.m. for work.
A few weeks ago, I was on assignment to interview Steven Pressley when I noticed someone crossing the zebra crossing in front of my car with purpose close to the hotel where I was supposed to meet the new Dundee manager.
Reconciling the younger self with the man in work dungarees took a few seconds. I thought, “There goes the last man to score a goal to send a Scottish club into the European Cup regulation semi-final stage.” Or perhaps I didn’t. “Oh my god, it’s Davie Dodds!” is perhaps more accurate. Catching up for a pint with the man in question is always a smart idea. He seldom ever agrees to interviews these days, so it’s a unique privilege. When I called him to see if he had time to talk about his role for Dundee United in a quarterfinal European Cup match, he exclaimed, “It was bloody 41 years ago!”
However, the chance to at least try to have some time with the former striker, who turns 67 next month, appears too good to pass up when Rapid Vienna returns to Tannadice for a Conference League qualifying match that is tied at 2-2 after the first leg in Austria last week. Particularly because, as I tell him, I’ve been thinking about him ever since I saw him travelling to see Pressley, his old teammate.
Yes, it was more than 41 years ago, and Rapid was the opponent of the aforementioned objective. From his preferred distance of roughly ten yards out, it was skilfully struck on the curve. For Dodds, this actually qualifies as a long range. When I told Eamonn Bannon that I wanted to talk to his old friend, he smiled. Of course, they never took penalties. Too far away!
It also enhances Dodds’ goal total of 150 in 321 games with United. After a brief stint in Switzerland, he scored 26 goals in 94 games at Aberdeen, so it wasn’t too awful either. Additionally, the Dundonian scored four goals in his seven league appearances for Rangers, the side he grew up rooting for (his father was a fan). He played with Pressley there, which may surprise some people because it seems like they are in opposite orbits. In fact, it seems a little unbelievable that they were on the same bench for a Champions League match versus Marseille.
Dodds had a successful career. And quite a variety of clubs: Uli Stielike, a German great, was a teammate of his in Switzerland with Neuchetal Xamax. There were also “clubs that got away,” as was the case with almost every Dundee United player of his day. In 1978, Liverpool, the European Cup winners, sought to sign him. “No,” said Jim McLean, without even telling the player. In late 1984, Celtic sought to sign him for a record-breaking sum between Scottish clubs. McLean said no once more.
“I was called by a Daily Record reporter who said, ‘Celtic is offering £300,000 for you. I know you’re a Rangers fan, would you sign for Celtic?'” remembers Dodds. The manager was David Hay. “Yeah, no issue, tell them to submit the bid,” I said. It was knocked back by little Jim. That was Celtic and Liverpool, then.
”The fact that Dodds is still employed is noteworthy. That’s what caught my attention when I saw him strolling in the heart of Dundee. Clubs merely attempting to advance to the Champions League group stage currently dominate the football discussion. Well, Dodds scored against AS Roma in the semi-final to help United advance to the round of four in what was then known as the European Cup.
Does the legendary Austrian striker Hans Krankl, who was a member of Rapid, wake up early to start his workday? As part of Dodds’ current duties, is the renowned penalty innovator Antonin Panenka, who also graced the Tannadice grass on the evening in question, cleaning restrooms? Of course not, despite the fact that they are both considerably older. When he turns 70, Dodds intends to retire, but he will never gripe about the corruption.
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