Matt Doherty´s journey from Bohemians’ pre-season trialist to Wolverhampton Wanderers´ returning cult hero reads like a testament to perseverance itself.
PART ONE
Matt Doherty, born in Swords, Dublin, on 16 January 1992, started out with with Bohemians. He had not even made a senior appearance for Bohs when, in the summer of 2010, Wolverhampton arrived in Dublin for a pre-season friendly at Dalymount Park.
Doherty, raw but physically imposing, caught the eye of Wolves’ scouts. He was composed on the ball, confident in the tackle, and surprisingly intelligent in his positioning for a teenager who had barely set foot in senior football. Moreover, his performance was enough to prompt Wolves to take a chance—£75,000 later, the untested Irishman was on his way to England.
It wasn’t glamorous, nor the sort of move that makes waves across Sky Sports’ breaking news ticker, but it was a leap of faith—one that would, in time, transform his career. Indeed, that first big move from Dublin to the West Midlands reflected the understated resilience that would become Doherty’s trademark.
However, like many young imports, the reality of Premier League football was harsher than the dream. He was entering a Wolves side competing at the top level under Mick McCarthy, a manager who favoured experience over youth. Still, Doherty’s chance eventually arrived.
Wolverhampton Wanderers handed Doherty his professional debut on 8 January 2011 in an FA Cup tie against Doncaster Rovers—a 5–0 win that barely hinted at the turmoil that would soon engulf the club. The Irishman’s calm presence and work rate impressed his coaches, and a few months later, he made his Premier League debut at Anfield, no less, against Liverpool on 24 September 2011.
It wasn’t a dream debut—Wolves lost—but it was a taste of the elite, a glimpse of what was possible. Nonetheless, opportunities were few and far between for a youngster learning the trade behind the established hierarchy of defenders. Therefore, like so many promising players at his stage, Doherty needed experience elsewhere.
Accordingly, in January 2012, he was sent north of the border on loan to Hibernian, in Scotland’s top flight.
At Hibs, Doherty began to understand what it meant to be relied upon week in, week out. He made his debut in a Scottish Cup win over Kilmarnock on 4 February 2012, showing versatility by playing across the back line. Although his preference remained at right-back, he willingly filled gaps wherever needed—centre-back one week, left-back the next.
Hibs struggled that season, but Doherty’s performances were among the few bright spots. He scored twice, demonstrated maturity beyond his years, and won over sections of the Easter Road faithful. However, his loan spell ended in heartbreak—literally and figuratively—when Hibs were thrashed 5–1 by Hearts in the Scottish Cup final.
Doherty apologised publicly to the supporters for that result—a gesture that underlined his character. Still, that brief Scottish sojourn toughened him, instilled steel into his game, and gave him the grounding that would serve him well when he returned to Molineux.
Later that year, in October 2012, Doherty joined Bury on loan. It was hardly a glamorous assignment, but it proved invaluable. League One was a gritty, unforgiving environment, and at Gigg Lane, the young Irishman thrived amid the mud and muscle.
Doherty made 22 appearances for the Shakers, immediately nailing down the right-back slot. His performances caught the attention of manager Kevin Blackwell, who lauded his commitment and technical prowess. Yet, as fate would have it, financial woes at Bury forced them to send their loanees back prematurely in January 2013.
Nevertheless, the experience sharpened Doherty’s edge and broadened his understanding of English football’s demands. Consequently, when he returned to Wolves—who were themselves spiralling toward a second successive relegation—he was ready for a fight.
The 2012–13 season was one of Wolves’ darkest in recent memory. Having just fallen from the Premier League, the club was sliding alarmingly down the Championship table under Dean Saunders. It was a time of flux, uncertainty, and managerial turmoil.
Yet for Doherty, it became a breakthrough period. Saunders trusted him at right-back, and despite the team’s eventual relegation to League One, the Irishman’s consistency was one of the few positives. In the following campaign, Kenny Jackett took over, bringing with him a sense of stability and direction.
Jackett recognised Doherty’s potential, offering him regular minutes as Wolves rebuilt from the wreckage. In September 2013, he rewarded the defender with a new contract—a gesture of faith that Doherty would more than justify.
Moreover, Wolves flourished under Jackett, storming to the League One title in 2013–14. Doherty’s marauding runs from right-back, coupled with his improving defensive discipline, became a key feature of the side’s style. The Irishman was evolving into a complete full-back: one capable of defending stoutly yet joining attacks with intelligence and intent.
As Wolves re-established themselves in the Championship, Doherty continued to grow in stature. His work rate, stamina, and knack for timing his forays forward endeared him to the fans.
In the 2015–16 season, he scored a stunning solo effort against Fulham at Molineux—a goal that would later be crowned the club’s Goal of the Season. Picking up the ball near the halfway line, he glided past defenders before finishing coolly. It was a glimpse of the attacking instincts that would later make him one of the Premier League’s most effective wing-backs.
That strike not only boosted his confidence but also confirmed his evolution from a reliable defender to a genuine match-winner from the back. Furthermore, it served as a reminder that behind his quiet demeanour lay a player with ambition and self-belief.
Fast forward to the summer of 2017, and Wolves were about to embark on a remarkable transformation. Under new Portuguese manager Nuno Espírito Santo, the club reshaped its playing philosophy entirely.
Doherty, who had by then signed a new long-term deal, was perfectly suited to Nuno’s 3-4-3 system. His engine and intelligence allowed him to thrive as a right wing-back, offering width and penetration while linking superbly with the likes of Hélder Costa, Diogo Jota, and later Raúl Jiménez.
During the 2017–18 campaign, Doherty was outstanding. His consistent performances helped Wolves storm to the Championship title and secure a return to the Premier League after a six-year exile.
As a result, his stock rose dramatically. Once a bit-part player in lower leagues, Doherty was now one of the best full-backs outside the top flight. His loyalty through the dark years was rewarded with the chance to prove himself among England’s elite.
Wolves’ first season back in the Premier League was a revelation. Nuno’s side finished seventh, playing stylish, fearless football—and Doherty was central to it. On 6 October 2018, he scored his first top-flight goal, netting the winner in a 1–0 victory away at Crystal Palace.
That month, he was named the PFA Fans’ Premier League Player of the Month, becoming only the fourth Irishman in history to win the award. It was fitting recognition for a player whose rise had been steady, unspectacular, but utterly relentless.
Furthermore, his performances earned him a regular place in the Republic of Ireland squad, where he began to push Seamus Coleman for the right-back berth. Indeed, competition between the two provided Ireland with an enviable depth on that flank.
The 2018–19 season proved even more special. Doherty continued to produce at an elite level, scoring crucial goals, including one in Wolves’ 3–1 victory over Arsenal in April 2019—their first win over the Gunners since 1979.
Later that summer, he made his European debut, scoring in a 4–0 win over FC Pyunik in Yerevan. For a player who had once toiled in the lower divisions, it was a career-defining moment.
Writing in The Guardian in December 2019, journalist Paul Doyle called Doherty Wolves’ best player of the decade—a glowing testament to his longevity and impact.
By the end of the 2019–20 season, Doherty had made his 300th appearance for Wolves, before featuring in their Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla—a narrow 1–0 defeat that brought his ten-year association with the club to an emotional end.
PART TWO
On 30 August 2020, Doherty’s move to Tottenham Hotspur was announced—a £13.4 million deal that seemed to mark the next logical step in his upward trajectory. There was, however, a twist: Doherty was a self-confessed Arsenal fan.
The club and player leaned into the irony with good humour, releasing a video of Doherty deleting his old pro-Arsenal tweets—a cheeky nod to North London rivalry.
Yet, despite the promising start, his time at Tottenham would be mixed. Under José Mourinho, and later Antonio Conte, Doherty faced fierce competition from Serge Aurier and Emerson Royal.
He made his debut in a 1–0 defeat to Everton on 13 September 2020 and showed glimpses of his Wolves form, but consistency proved elusive. Moreover, Tottenham’s tactical setup—less fluid and more rigid—didn’t always play to his strengths.
Nevertheless, perseverance, as ever, defined him. On 26 February 2022, Doherty scored his first Spurs goal in a 4–0 win at Leeds, a match remembered also for the deadly Kane-Son combination.
Then came misfortune. In April 2022, he suffered a medial collateral ligament injury against Aston Villa, ending his season prematurely. It was a cruel blow just as he had rediscovered form.
Returning in the 2022–23 season, he managed to add another goal at Crystal Palace in January 2023—a reminder of his enduring attacking instincts—but his time in North London was drawing to a close.
In a somewhat surprising twist, Doherty’s contract with Spurs was terminated on 31 January 2023 to allow him to join Atlético Madrid. It was, on paper, an extraordinary opportunity—a chance to work under Diego Simeone and experience La Liga.
However, the move never truly ignited. Doherty made just two appearances in Spain before leaving as a free agent that summer. Still, few could begrudge him the experience; for a player who once trudged through League One pitches in Bury, a stint at Atlético was something of a full-circle dream.
Then came the homecoming. On 20 July 2023, Wolves announced that Matt Doherty had returned on a three-year deal. It was the kind of sentimental footballing story fans adore: the prodigal son returning to where it all began.
Three years and 18 days after his last appearance for Wolves, he pulled on the gold shirt once more, scoring twice in a 5–0 EFL Cup win over Blackpool on 29 August 2023. The roar that greeted his brace wasn’t just for the goals—it was for the man himself, the journey, the perseverance, the refusal to vanish into memory.
And on Christmas Eve 2023, he added another chapter, scoring the winner in a 2–1 victory over Chelsea—the club’s first league fixture on that date for 28 years. A fitting festive gift to the fans who had always adored him.
PART THREE
International recognition didn’t come overnight. After representing Ireland at youth levels, Doherty’s senior call-up arrived in March 2016. Yet, even then, he had to bide his time behind the ever-reliable Seamus Coleman.
He made his senior debut on 23 March 2018 in a 1–0 defeat to Turkey, then earned his first start later that year in the Nations League against Denmark. His first international goal followed on 19 November 2019, also against Denmark, as Ireland secured a 1–1 draw.
Notably, Doherty’s commitment to the green jersey never wavered. Even during challenging club spells, he remained a dependable figure for Ireland, offering width and experience.
On 16 November 2020, he tested positive for COVID-19 after playing against Wales—a setback that temporarily halted his international momentum—but he returned stronger, eventually captaining Ireland for the first time on 22 March 2023 in a friendly against Latvia.
However, football being what it is, the pendulum swings both ways: just months later, he received his first international red card in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Greece. Typical Doherty—always in the thick of the action.