Brian Clough
The greatest manager England never had
Brian Howard Clough (21 March 1935 – 20 September 2004) was an English football player and manager, primarily known for his successes as a manager with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. He won the European Cup twice with Nottingham Forest and is one of four managers to have won the English league with two different clubs. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time.
- Role
- Manager (and former player)
- Most notable club
- Nottingham Forest (1972–1987)
- European Cups
- 2 (1979, 1980)
- First Division titles
- 2 (1977–78, 1978–79)
- Leeds United tenure
- 44 days (1974)
- Key assistant
- Peter Taylor
- Died
- 2004
Lore & Background
Clough played as a striker for Middlesbrough and Sunderland, scoring 251 league goals in 274 matches. He won two England caps. He entered management after his playing career was ended by a serious injury at the age of 29. As a manager, Clough was closely associated with Peter Taylor, who served as his assistant manager at several clubs. He is also remembered for giving frequent radio and television interviews in which he made controversial remarks.
In Their Own Story
The dressing room at the City Ground, summer 1979. The air is thick with the smell of liniment and old sweat. Clough stands at the front, arms crossed, reading the names on the team sheet as though he is reading a list of debts. He looks up. "Right. You lot know what's at stake. You lot know what they're saying in the papers. They say we're a joke. They say a promoted side can't do this." He taps the sheet. "I'm not here to make friends. I'm here to make sure that when the final whistle blows in Marseille, nobody in this room has a single excuse. Now get changed. And if I see one of you moping, I'll put you in the reserves and I won't apologise." The silence that follows is not fear. It is the particular, electric quiet of men who have decided, in that moment, to follow.
Reader's Guide
Clough's managerial career began at Hartlepools United in 1965, where he appointed Peter Taylor as his assistant. He moved to Derby County in 1967, winning the Second Division title in 1968–69 and the First Division title in 1971–72. After a brief spell at Brighton & Hove Albion, he managed Leeds United for 44 days in 1974, then joined Nottingham Forest in 1975. At Forest, he won the First Division title in 1977–78, two European Cups (1979 and 1980), and two League Cups (1978 and 1979). He later won two more League Cups (1989 and 1990) before retiring in 1993.
Did You Know?
- Clough scored 204 goals in 222 league matches for Middlesbrough.
- He was the youngest manager in the league when he took over Hartlepools United at age 30.
- Clough failed his Eleven-plus exam and left school without qualifications.
- He once had to tour local pubs to raise money to keep Hartlepools United afloat.
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