A true legend of English football, Brian Clough, arguably the greatest English manager never to have been given the England job, probably because of his outspoken manner.
Clough was a very good player, forced to retire early when he damaged his cruciate knee ligaments, an injury that was terminal to a football career in those days. Clough was only 27 at the time. Clough did make a comeback after two years, which says a lot for his desire and determination, that must have been a very hard struggle indeed. Alas he only managed 3 games after his comeback, finally retiring at age 29.
Clough was a prolific goal scorer, scoring 197 goals in 213 appearances for Middlesbrough, a very good scoring record for a striker. Strangely he only played two times for England, something that seems to happen to a lot of very good players over the years, if you don't make an instant impact you don't seem to get much of a chance.
After several transfer requests, Clough moved to Sunderland in 1961, Clough scored 63 goals in 74 games for them, again a very good return. It was during a match against Bury in icy, horrible conditions, that Clough was put through 1 on 1 with the keeper that the fateful injury occurred.
Still being young and little other career options open to him, Clough took the managers job at 4th division club Hartlepools United, after a spell as youth coach at Sunderland, he was 30 years old and the youngest manager in the league.
Clough made a very good decision in asking Peter Taylor to become his assistant, this became one of the most successful partnerships in English football. Clough knew Taylor from his playing days at Middlesbrough, Taylor was a goalkeeper at Middlesbrough but rarely got in the first team and they must have got on well because Taylor gave up the managers job at Burton Albion to join him.
Hartlepools were a struggling side, continually finishing last in the league and very short of money, Taylor and Clough turned the clubs fortunes around, finishing 8th before they both left to go to Derby, based on the solid foundations the two had laid down, Hartlepools United gained promotion to the third division the following season.
Taylor complimented Clough in many ways, Taylor had the talent for finding players and Clough got the most out of them, Clough was a strict disciplinarian and believed in playing football fairly, something that would lead to big confrontations later in his career.
Clough and Taylor arrived at Derby when they were struggling in the second division, their only title to that point was winning the FA Cup in 1946, unbeknown to Derby supporters Clough and Taylor were going to change all that.
The first year was a rebuilding exercise, because they actually finished one place lower than the previous season. Clough's influence at the club was soon realised, he sacked the groundsman the club secretary and the chief scout and only retained 4 players from the squad he inherited.
This resulted in Derby becoming league champions in 1968, with a club record of 22 games without defeat, Derby were back in the big time. After a couple of good seasons in the top league, Derby won the league title in the 1971-1972 season, Clough had spent a British record on Colin Todd and it was during this time that his disagreement with the Derby Chairman and board started.
Clough and Taylor angered the Derby board by making expensive signings without getting the boards approval. Clough and Taylor resigned from Derby in 1973 much to the annoyance of Derby fans, who called for the boards resignation and the immediate reinstatement of Clough and Taylor.
Clough was very outspoken and wrote articles in the newspapers criticising some if the greats of the game, Sir Matt Busby, Alf Ramsey, Don Revie, Billy Bremner and Norman Hunter were some of the greats who received his barbs. It was probably these actions that forever prevented him form getting the England managers job.
Clough and Taylor had a brief spell at Brighton, which wasn't very successful by his standards, Clough left after a rather humiliating loss of 8-2 at home, a beating in football by anyone's standards.
The partnership with Taylor was broken when Clough made arguably the biggest mistake of his career by taking the Leeds managers job, Don Revie had left to take the England job and I would suggest Clough couldn't resist the chance to improve on what Don Revie had achieved. It was not a wise move considering the way Clough had criticised Revie and Leeds for their disciplinary record and playing style.
This episode was captured in the film The Damned United, which chronicles Clough's mere 44 days in charge, whilst some of the facts in the film are challenged by Cloughs family, it is well worth watching for the brilliant performance of Martin Sheen as Clough.
What probably isn't disputed is that Clough wasn't liked by the Leeds players who were very loyal to Revie and did not take to the brash, outspoken Clough and as a consequence results were not good enough and Clough was sacked.
Clough soon found himself back in management when he replaced Allan Brown as manager of Nottingham Forest which would become the place for his greatest achievements. Clough finished the season in 8th place but was already assembling the team that would achieve greatness, he brought in John McGovern and John O'Hare who had been with him at Derby, along with Martin O'Neill and John Robertson though both already at the club, they were unhappy and had requested transfers.
The dream team was complete when Peter Taylor rejoined Clough the following season and the path to European glory was set in motion. It was with Taylor's eye for players that proved the difference, the dream team was back in business.
Clough and Taylor quickly secured the club back to the top flight of English football. Clough joined an exclusive club of managers to have achieved promotion to the top flight of English football with two different clubs.
Clough spent 18 years at Forest, he won the league title, back to back European Cups, four League Cups, they did not however win an FA Cup, the closest was a final against Spurs in which Paul Gascoigne lost his head with a terrible tackle that damaged his knee ligaments.
Forest took the lead from the resultant free kick but Spurs fought back to win the game 2-1 and prevent Clough winning the FA Cup, the one trophy that he never won as a manager.
Whilst at Forest, Clough orchestrated the first £1 million pound transfer, when Trevor Francis signed from Birmingham City, doubling what had been the previous record. Francis repaid this handsomely, he scored the winner in their first European Cup final against Swedish side Malmo.
Interesting Clough Videos
Clough and Revie on TV
Damned United Trailer
Clough Story
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