From Brendan Crossan in Abbotstown
IF Matt Doherty was ever offered media training in his career, he must have declined it. The 33—year-old Dubliner is a throwback to a less sanitised era – a time when it was okay to voice an opinion.
Following Martin O’Neill’s exit, Doherty didn’t hold back on the perceived quality of the Derry man’s training sessions - much to the former manager’s annoyance.
When he was omitted from Heimir Hallgrimsson’s Ireland squad to face Finland and Greece last October, he went on record to say he felt disrespected, especially when the manager opted to play Andrew Omobamidele – a recognised central defender - at right back.
Doherty was heavily criticised for his performance against England in Dublin last September and was omitted for the next window.
But the Wolves defender won a recall to the squad after Seamus Coleman was forced to withdraw from the Uefa Nations League games against Finland and England last November.
Four months on, Doherty’s almost constant presence at the heart of the Wolves defence has helped him retain his international place for the Nations League two-legged relegation/promotion clash with Bulgaria.
Hallgrimsson and Doherty’s relationship hasn’t always been plain sailing and the player wasn’t afraid to voice his disgruntlement over his brief non-selection.
And in Abbotstown yesterday he didn’t disown his comments of five months ago.
“I stand by the comments I made at the time,” said Doherty.
“It was obviously a long time ago and a lot has kind of passed since then. At the moment, we have a good relationship, and everything seems to be fine.”
Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson recalled Matt Doherty last November and has retained him for the upcoming games with Bulgaria (John Walton/PA)
Doherty’s career has been one of peaks and troughs.
Constantly battling for the right back – or right wing-back – berth with Coleman on the international stage for the best part of a decade, Doherty has been forced to play on the opposite wing occasionally as well as in central defence.
One of his best periods in an erratic international career came in the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign, while he suffered a testing time in last September’s 2-0 loss to England in the Nations League, which prompted his subsequent omission.
Club level has been equally volatile for the Swords native. His £13m move to Tottenham Hotspur in August 2020 wasn’t as successful as he’d hoped.
His move to Atletico Madrid was a disaster, lasting six forgettable months with next to no game-time accrued under Diego Simeone.
He returned to Wolves in July 2023 and was in and out of the first team. Even at the beginning of this season, the trend looked as though it would continue – but he’s battled his way into the starting line-up and has fully justified his international call-up this week.
“Results weren’t going well at club level,” Doherty said. “The manager relied on me for a particular game and I played well for Gary \[O’Neill\] for two, maybe even three games before he got sacked.
“Vitor Pereira came in and changed my position for the first training sessions and I have not played out wide since.
“I am almost thankful for that as the position I am playing I am really enjoying and playing well.
“I always back myself to turn things around when things weren’t going well and I have managed to do it again.”
With Seamus Coleman not match-fit for the upcoming Bulgaria games – Thursday and Sunday – Doherty could play as an orthodox right back or wing-back, depending on Hallgrimsson’s formation, or in the heart of defence where he is thriving at Wolves.
“I am whatever - right back, left back, right wing-back, left wing-back - I will be whatever,” he said.
Despite the turbulent periods in his career, Doherty has never felt he’d to prove a point to anyone.
“I played a lot of games for a large part of my career and the managers have obviously been happy with what I’ve been doing,” he said.
“The last couple of years haven’t gone as well as I’d planned in my head but you have a long career, things change and there are going to be periods where you’re going to be completely out of favour - and I’ve obviously had that and I’ve had times as well where I’ve felt like the main man.
“So, I think the key for me is just to stay in that medium ground level – never get too up, never get too down, and that’s helped through the course of my whole career.”