September 20 – Old Big ‘Ead Bows Out
FOOTBALL is nothing without its characters, the people that bring the game alive for the fans, and they did not come much bigger than Brian Clough.
It was on this day in 2004 that Cloughie lost his battle with cancer and died, at the age of 69.
Never one to sit on the fence or shirk an opportunity to give an opinion Clough could always point to results to back up his claim that: “I certainly wouldn’t say I’m the best manager in the business, but I’m in the top one.”
After a high-scoring playing career with his hometown club Middlesbrough and Sunderland, Clough made the move into management with Hartlepool United in 1965.
But it was at Derby where he began to really establish himself as a top boss, first getting the team promoted to the then First Division, and then winning it in 1972.
The following year Clough led his team to the semi-finals of the European Cup where they lost 3-1 to Juventus. Never one to take these things lying down, Clough diplomatically branded the Italians “cheating bastards” and questioned the conduct of their nation during ze war.
After a fall out with the Rams’ board Clough and his long-time assistant Peter Taylor upped sticks and had a brief spell with Brighton and Hove Albion before his ill-fated 44 days in charge of Leeds United.
After winning only one match at the Elland Road club and falling out with most of the senior players Clough was sacked prompting him to say: “This a terrible day . . . for Leeds United.
Cloughie’s next destination was to be his last, and his most successful. He worked his Derby magic again at Nottingham Forest, first getting them promoted to the First Division, and then winning it the year after that – a feat that is unimaginable now.
As well as domestic success, Clough also brought European glory to Forest by winning the European Cup twice, something that Sir Alex Ferguson has yet to achieve which Cloughie clearly enjoyed when he said: “For all his horses, knighthoods and championships, he hasn’t got two of what I’ve got. And I don’t mean balls.”
Many fans at the height of Clough’s powers called for him to be given the England job but his outspokenness and controversial nature seemed to scare off the FA.
Clough had his own theory on why the suits at Lancaster Gate would not give him the top job. He said: “They thought I was going to change it lock, stock and barrel. They were shrewd because that’s exactly what I would have done.”
Whether you found his comments refreshingly honest or simply arrogant, the football world is certainly less colourful without Brian Clough, and just as he would have insisted, we’ll leave the last word to the big man himself.
“I want no epitaphs of profound history or all that kind of thing. I contributed, I hope they would say that and I hope that somebody liked me.”
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