Career
He forged a long-lasting relationship with manager, Brian Clough, and assistant-manager, Peter Taylor, at Hartlepool United,, Leeds and His final match for Derby came in February 1974. He moved to Leeds United in August 1974, and in January 1975 moved to Second Division side, who he captained to two European Cups.
McGovern joined Bolton Wanderers as player-manager in July 1982, and remained thereuntil January 1985.
He made a total of 16 League appearances for Bolton before moving to Horwich Remote Method Invocation. He was later assistant manager of Chorley and Plymouth Argyle before being appointed joint manager of Rotherham United alongside Archie Gemmill in 1994. He left Rotherham two years later and was subsequently hired as manager of Woking and had a spell as assistant at Hull City before joining Ilkeston Town to replace Keith Alexander as manager in November 2000.
He was sacked by the club in March of the following year after an eight-game winless run.