"I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one" - Brian Clough

As legends go, Brian Clough would be amongst the very, very best of them and he?d tell you so himself.

"I want no epitaphs of profound history and all that type of thing. I contributed - I would hope they would say that, and I would hope somebody liked me..." - Brian Clough

Brian Clough's story was a one off, unique and the likes of which will never happen again, his story starts from humble beginnings.

Born on 21st March 1935, as 17 year old, he signed his first professional papers, with Middlesboro, but had to wait until 1955 to make his debut, due to an incredibly strong Boro first team. He was the top scorer for three consecutive seasons, before growing frustrated and feeling restricted by the side. In July 1961, he moved to North East neighbours and rivals Sunderland, where he maintained his prolific goal scoring feats. Clough was quick and brave, unfortunately, this was his undoing, because on Boxing Day 1962, he collided with the Bury FC keeper and irreparably damaged his cruciate ligaments, at 27, his playing career was over.

Clough In His 'Boro & Sunderland Days

In a career that spanned a little over 6 years, Brian Clough scored a staggering 251 goals in 274 first team appearances. He represented England on two occasions against Sweden and Wales.

Undaunted (typically), Brian Clough became the youngest manager in the country, when he took control of Hartlepool United, aged just 29, during the 1967/68 season. Clough immediately appointed his friend Peter Taylor, an appointment that would prove crucial. Hartlepools were perennially in danger of losing their league status, regularly needing to seek re-election. Clough changed all that, their fortunes improved to the extent that he was lured to Derby County, a struggling 2nd Division (2nd tier) team, later that year.

Clough Earns His 'L Plates'

Derby County Chairman Sam Longson, impressed by the potential of the pairing, secured their signatures, ahead of Aston Villa and West Brom. Clough had very clear ideas about what he wanted as a manager, but it was Taylor who would provide the talent. Clough and Taylor's relationship was symbiotic, Clough a brilliant and unrivalled tactician and man-manager, Taylor an incredible scout and talent spotter. Taylor would produce the bullets, Clough would fire the shots.

Longson's money was soon being spent, several players were brought in, notably John O'Hare and Roy McFarland, obvious and clear improvement followed, lowly Derby County reached the semi-finals of the League Cup, in 1967, only to be defeated by 1st Division rising stars, Leeds United.

The rebuilding continued in earnest, with John McGovern from Hartlepools. Clough believed in a strong spine to a team, he simplified philosophies and wanted players to fulfil their roles. His masterstroke was to bring in Spurs legend Dave MacKay to strengthen his midfield. Clough personally visited MacKay, at his home and persuaded him to take the step down to the 2nd Division. All the pieces were in place and Derby County hit first place on November 30th, they were never headed again and were crowned 2nd Division Champions in 1968/69.

Clough's Arrival At Derby, Clough And Peter Taylor, Captain MacKay Congratulated By Clough

Derby's return to the top flight heralded a tremendous turn around in fortunes. They finished a credible 4th in their first season, but were denied a UEFA Cup spot, due to financial mismanagement, something which caused a rift between Clough and the board.

The following season was difficult, partly because the financial collapse of Rolls Royce, hit the town hard. Clough responded typically, he recruited Colin Todd and Archie Gemmill. MacKay left the club and MacFarlane became captain for the following season. The campaign went well, but with the mighty Leeds only a point behind, with their remaining game left to play, Peter Taylor took the squad to Majorca, whilst the Cloughs went to the Scilly Isles. Remarkably, Don Revie's Leeds stumbled at the final hurdle and lost to Wolves and Clough had steered Derby from lowly 2nd Division strugglers to 71/72 1st Division Champions.

Derby County Crowned Champions

Clough would not be denied the place in Europe this time, and his Derby side advanced to the European Cup semi-final, where they met European titans, Juventus. Derby were subjected to some shocking refereeing decisions. Clough questioned the integrity of the referee, accused the Juventus side of being "cheating bastards" even questioning the Italian nation's courage in the war. It later emerged that the referee had received 'gifts' from the Juventus side. However, the damage was done, the FA were required to formally apologise and Derby were threatened with expulsion from the league, consequently Clough clashed and fell out with the Derby board and left soon after.

Clough Leads Out Leeds In the 1974 Charity Shield

After a short spell at Brighton, Clough was appointed manager of Leeds United in the summer of 1974. Typically, in his first address to the team, he famously said "You got all those medals by cheating", refering to their 'strong arm' tactics, which were in direct conflict with his footballing ethics, this set him at odds with their established stars and in particular Billy Bremner. Clough's tenure lasted a remarkable 44 days.

1975 saw Brian Clough return to the 2nd Division with unfashionable Nottingham Forest, replacing Dave MacKay as manager. A year later, he was rejoined by Peter Taylor, by the end of that season, they had secured promotion to the 1st Division. Clough had recruited many of his favourite players, O'Hare, McGovern, Gemmill, plus players like Larry Lloyd and Peter Withe.

In their first season in the top flight, Clough and Taylor masterminded a Championship and League Cup double in 1977/78, challenging Bob Paisley's Liverpool. Clough became the first manager since Herbert Chapman to win the league with 2 different clubs. Between November 26th '77 and December 9th '78, Nottingham Forest went a remarkable 42 games unbeaten, a record that lasted almost 26 years, until Arsene Wenger's Arsenal beat it in 2004. Clough was awarded the Manager Of The Year for 1978 in recognition of his achievements.

Clough With His Manager Of The Year Trophy, Clough & Taylor Lift The Championship

With winning the league, Clough was again back in Europe and he decided to strengthen his side, making Trevor Francis Britain's first £1m player. In true Brian Clough style, he promptly put him in the 'A' team, to play Notts County. When Francis did make his first team debut, it got worse! His instructions were clear...

"Don't worry too much about what to do, just give the ball to John Robertson and he'll do the rest"

"But you've just paid a million pounds for me?!" responded a troubled Francis,

"Yes, but he's a better player than you" retorted Clough.

Written by: Resurrection Joe

Forest signified their intent, by knocking the holders Liverpool out of the European Cup in the first round, they then cruised past AEK Athens and Grasshoppers. Forest won a hard-fought semi-final against FC Koln before travelling to Olympiastadion in Munich to face IFK Malmo. Malmo were managed by Englishman Bob Houghton, they had come through some tough ties and were a tough nut to crack. They had kept 4 clean sheets out of 5 games, with an incredibly well organised defence. The only man to breach the Swedes back line, you guessed it, 'One Million Pound Man', Trevor Francis.

Clough With John Robertson, Trevor Francis Scores In The European Cup Final, Forest Team

In the 1979/80 Competition, Forest cruised through the early stages, meeting a rampant Ajax side who had scored 30 goals, in the semi finals, they despatched them clinically, 2-1 over two legs. Forest were again through to the final to be held in Madrid. Laurie Cunningham's Real Madrid, European Cup aristocrats were leading their semi-final 2-0, when they were literally steamrollered by a Hamburger SV side which featured Horst Hrubesch, Manni Kaltz, Felix Magath and the England pin up boy Kevin Keegan. Hamburg were strong favourites with the bookmakers, but that meant nothing to Clough. John Robertson scored the opener in the 19th minute and they then repelled everything that the Germans could throw at them, Peter Shilton in unbeatable form. The game finished and Forest had defended their European crown.

Clough & Taylor, Captain John McGovern Lifts The European Cup, Clough & Taylor Enjoy Their European Nights

When Clough had taken over Forest in 1975, they were a struggling 2nd Division outfit, by 1980, Clough had delivered a 1st Division Championship('78), consecutive League Cups('78 & '79) and defended the pinnacle of continental football, the European Cup.('79 & '80)

Clough, now without Peter Taylor, went on to further success, winning the League Cup a further 2 times ('89 & '90) and reaching the FA Cup Final in 1991. A competition that had painfully eluded him, the game will be remembered as the game in which Paul Gascoigne ruptured his knee ligaments, but regrettably for Clough, Spurs went on to win the game 2-1.

Clough & Terry Venables At The 1991 Cup Final, Clough In Decline

Clough's powers were waning, we weren't aware of it at the time, but Clough had fought a long battle with alcoholism, a fight he was slowly losing.

In 1993, after a long season, Forest were relegated and a distraught Clough, announces his retirement on his beloved City Ground pitch. In a spontaneous outburst of emotion, Clough is mobbed on the pitch, by fans and media alike. The club had been relegated but the fans of Forest were devastated by the loss of their talisman, celebrated him as a leader. Brian Clough was finally gone and a footballing era had drawn to an end.

An Emotional Brian Clough Announces His Retirement

In his retirement, Clough never returned to Forest's City Ground, preferring to watch his son Nigel's team Burton Albion. He received several honours, including a PFA Merit Award, in 1992, an OBE in 1991, he was made a Freeman of Nottingham, Nottingham Forest named a stand after him and the English Football Hall Of Fame made him an Inaugural Inductee in 2002.

Clough Receives His OBE, Clough Made Freeman Of Nottingham

In January 2003, 30 years of heavy drinking took its toll and Brian Clough underwent a liver transplant, which saved his life, doctors forecast he had less than 2 weeks to live, but Cloughie fought on. This gave him a new lease of life and he was seen occasionally again, on TV, expressing his out spoken views.

Clough Through The Years

His salvation was short-lived, on 20th September 2004, Brian Clough sadly died of stomach cancer, at the age of 69. The loss of Brian Clough rocked the football community to it's core, he was perceived by those who didn't know him, as brash, arrogant, cocky and outspoken, the truth was very different, he was a deeply caring man, a committed socialist, seen many times on the picket lines, during the Miners Strike and a sponsor of the Anti Nazi League. He was humorous, when asked "why have I been dropped to the reserves?" by Martin O'Neill, Clough responded "because the 'A' team haven't got a game, son!".

Brian Clough Tributes

Brian Clough was a genius, he took not one, but two sides out of the 2nd Division and made them English Champions, he took Notts Forest to the peak of European soccer... then took them back!!!! He was a maverick, many people believe the FA resented him, for his comments regarding Juventus, comments which subsequently were borne out and proven to be true. He never got the England job, he craved so badly. He proved however, that he could take good players and make them truly great, he was a believer in the simplicity of football. He understood the very essence of the game. He lived every moment for football and when the game was cruelly taken from him aged 27, he faced the challenge head on and conquered it. He breathed life into clubs that barely had a pulse and he fashioned great players, in his own image, Martin O'Neill, Stuart Pearce, Des Walker all owe their careers to Cloughie, when he saw their potential and plucked them from obscurity. Clough had impeccable judgement and a confidence borne from knowing the game, he was honest, forthright, loved a challenge but, would never, ever let you get the last word.

We'll never see the likes of the great Brian Clough again, but I am thankful I saw him at all. The word "Legend" was invented for men like him.

Cloughie gets The Last Word

"Don't send me flowers when I'm dead, send them to me now if you like me." - Brian Clough