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McDermott’s role was to assist on the training field and to watch games of opponents and be involved in team strategy. The 1999 financial statement stated that McDermott was employed as Chief Scout and Assistant first team coach.
Prior to accepting the offer from Kenny Dalglish he had been involved in his own off-site catering business having left football when Dalglish parted company with Newcastle Utd. He had been assistant to Kenny at Newcastle and had in fact been with them since 1992 when Kevin Keegan brought him in. Keegan and McDermott helped take Newcastle back into the top of the English Premiership just missing out on a championship in 1996. When Keegan resigned in January 1997, McDermott stayed on as caretaker and then as assistant to Kenny Dalglish.
Though his post was nominally Assistant to the Head Coach, Terry McDermott was seen ostensibly as a first team morale and social coach and as part of the backroom team that was intimately involved in the every day affairs of the Celtic first team staff. This did not do him much good in the ensuing chaos following the game against Inverness Caledonian Thistle. John Barnes was sacked and was closely followed by Eric Black and Terry McDermott on the 10th February, 2000, with Kenny Dalglish being hastily called back from a golfing holiday in Spain, to assume Head Coach and team affairs.
Playing Career:
Terry McDermott was born on 8th December, 1951 in Kirkby just outside of Liverpool. He enjoyed a long and very successful career as a midfield player first with Bury followed by an initial spell with Newcastle Utd. However it was at Liverpool that he made his name and with whom he won 25 England caps. He returned to Newcastle Utd as a player in 1982 and finished off the twilight of his career with short spells at Cork City and APOEL Nicosia.
Years Club Appearances (Goals) 1969 – 1973 Bury 90 (3) 1973 – 1974 Newcastle Utd 56 (6) 1974 – 1982 Liverpool 232 (54) 1982 – 1984 Newcastle Utd 74 (12) 1984 – 1985 Cork City No Data 1985 – 1986 APOEL Nicosia No Data
After Celtic:
Terry McDermott returned to Newcastle Utd as assistant to Graham Souness in September 2004. He outlasted Souness and went on to survive the Newcastle managerships of Glen Roeder, Sam Allardyce and Kevin Keegan for a second spell. He left when Keegan quit in September 2008.
In December 2008 he was named as assistant to Lee Clark at First Division Huddersfield Town, a position which he continues to hold.
In Aug 2021, Terry McDermott & his family announced that sadly Terry McDermott had dementia, a condition that sadly was impacting a number of ex-footballers from previous generations.
Quotes:
- “If John didn’t want me here, I wouldn’t be here – it’s as simple as that and that is the most important thing.”
Dementia diagnosis of former Celtic assistant manager and Liverpool player Terry McDermott
Terry McDermott, the former Liverpool footballer and one time Celtic and Newcastle United assistant manager, has revealed he is suffering from dementia.
By David Oliver
Sunday, 22nd August 2021, 5:20 pm
Updated
16 hours ago
Terry McDermott watches the 1999 fixture with Kilmarnock with Eric Black and Celtic head coach John Barnes (3rd left)
Terry McDermott watches the 1999 fixture with Kilmarnock with Eric Black and Celtic head coach John Barnes (3rd left)
The 69-year-old said “battling is second nature” after revealing the condition with a statement to supporters via Liverpool’s website. He spent 12 years at Anfield as a player after being signed by Bob Paisley.
Four league titles, three European Cups and one UEFA Cup later beside Greme Souness in the Reds midfield, he moved to Newcastle where he would also take his first steps in coaching before a dug-out role at Celtic assisting John Barnes. He later returned to Newcastle with former team-mate Souness and also held coaching positions at Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City.
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“I’ve got to get on with it and I will. It’s the way I’ve been brought up. Nothing has come to me easily,” he said. “I’m not frightened of taking it on and also, as we’ve seen, there are a lot of former players in a worse state than me.
Terry McDermott, Celtic assistant coach
Terry McDermott, Celtic assistant coach
“Battling is second nature. The worst thing was, until my condition was diagnosed you don’t know what’s going on. The number of ex-players being diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s is frightening.”
McDermott is in the early stages of Lewy Body dementia. The family of Scotland international Gordon McQueen revealed the former Manchester United defender was suffering vasular dementia earlier this year while last week Denis Law’s illness was also revealed. The record scorer for Scotland believes heading heavy footballs throughout his career contributed to the condition.