 Watson in 1896 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | April 1859 | ||
| Place of birth | Newcastle upon Tyne, England | ||
| Date of death | 6 May 1915(1915-05-06) (aged 56) | ||
| Place of death | Liverpool, England | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Woodbine | |||
| Rosewood | |||
| Heaton | |||
| Managerial career | |||
| Newcastle West End | |||
| Newcastle East End | |||
| 1888–1896 | Sunderland | ||
| 1896–1915 | Liverpool | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Tom Watson (April 1859 – 6 May 1915) was an Englishfootball manager who managedSunderland andLiverpool around the turn of the 20th century.[1] In winning theleague title with both clubs—the first title for both—he was the first manager to do so with two clubs. Watson remains Liverpool'slongest-serving manager, spending a total of nineteen years at the club.[2][3]
In 1881, Watson formedNewcastle upon Tyne-based club Rosehill.[4] Being involved in local football, Watson played for local clubs Woodbine, Rosewood and Heaton.[5] Prior to joiningSunderland, Watson was involved in a secretarial capacity at hometown clubsNewcastle West End andNewcastle East End.[6] Acting as a general manager for both clubs, Watson helped Newcastle West End secure a lease ofSt James' Park, before resigning in December 1887 due to a crush at a game betweenShankhouse, who had been loaned St James' Park, andAston Villa.[7] Watson later joined Newcastle East End in time for the1888–89 season, where he continued to recruit Scottish international players, a tactic he had employed at West End.[8]
Watson was in charge at Sunderland for six seasons from 1889 to 1896. During this time, he led the club into theFootball League. Under his guidance, Sunderland won three league championships in 1891–92, 1892–93 and 1894–95, making him the most successful manager in their history. Watson's Sunderland were declared the "Team of All Talents" byWilliam McGregor,[9] the founder of the league, after a 7–2 win against Aston Villa.[9]
Watson moved toLiverpool in 1896 and enjoyed further success there until his death in 1915. Liverpool'slongest-serving manager, during his nineteen years in charge he won the league on two occasions, in 1900–01 and 1905–06.[10] Those were the first league titles in Liverpool history.[10] He therefore became the first manager to lead two different clubs to the League Championship. There have been only three others since;Herbert Chapman,Brian Clough andKenny Dalglish. Watson also took Liverpool to their firstFA Cup Final in 1914, which they lost 1–0 toBurnley.[11]In late April 1915, after returning from a visit to Newcastle to celebrate his 56th birthday, he contracted a chill which developed into a fatal bout of pneumonia. He died on 6 May 1915 and is buried atAnfield Cemetery, his coffin having been carried by many players.[12]
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Newcastle East End | 1889 | 1890 | 21 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 052.4 |
| Newcastle West End | 1889 | 1890 | 20 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 065.0 |
| Sunderland | August 1889 | 17 August 1896 | 191 | 119 | 28 | 44 | 062.3 |
| Liverpool | 17 August 1896 | 6 May 1915 | 742 | 329 | 141 | 272 | 044.3 |
| 974 | 472 | 174 | 328 | 048.5 | |||
