Brian Clough, born 21st March 1935, 11 Valley Road, Middlesbrough. Clough sadly lost his life on September 20th 2004, but he remains one of footballs respected and recognised characters, a man of whom tales will be told for years to come. When people think of Brian Clough, they think of a successful manager, let's not forget, his playing career wasn't too bad either, 251 goals in 274 games. But Clough will not only be remembered for the success he delivered as a manager, notably at Nottingham Forest and Derby County, but also how he conducted himself as a person. Clough was one of a kind, ego-ridden, arrogant, and a love or hate character, but whatever you say of Brian Clough, he would always turn heads. He was irresistable to watch in the press, he thrived on publicity, he thrived on controversial issues, he stamped his authority everywhere he went in a way no other man did, and he truely believed he was the best. Brian Clough's famous pairing with Peter Taylor commensed at Hartlepool United in October 1965, Clough became the youngest manager in the league aged 30, and the combination of Clough and Taylor clicked from day one, Taylor was the man who could seek out the player, Clough was the man who could mould him to how he desired. He stabilised the club over a 2 year period, before making the two duo made tracks to the Midlands, and to Derby County. What was to be achieved at Derby County would be talked about for generations to come.
Derby County had been starved of top flight football for 5 years, and found themselves at the foot of the second division table, it took just two seasons before the Clough and Taylor combination worked their magic and took the Rams back to the top flight of football, with a club record breaking 22 game unbeaten run for good measure. This alone was a magnificent achievement in itself, but Clough wasn't finished there, much like his mentality was throughout his management careeer Clough had ambitious plans, plans to make a mark on the top flight. The first season back in the top flight for Derby delivered an incredible 4th place finish, and it was only a few seasons on that Derby and Brian Clough then found themselves competeing against Liverpool and Leeds for the Division one title, and in the 71-72 season, Derby, were champions of England.
Clough obtained a somewhat hostile relationship with Derby Chairman Sam Longson, and in April 1972 the relationship finally ran it's course, both Clough and Taylor issued ultimatum resignation letters to the board, and to their suprise and the suprise of the Derby support, the resignations were accepted. The Derby adventure was over. Both Clough and Taylor then headed South to ambitious Division Three outfit Brighton & Hove Albion, success was to be limited here, and he would remain at the club just 32 games before one of the biggest stories in football history occured, Brian Clough would take over the enemy, Leeds United.
The magnitude of this move simply couldn't be drawn into comparison these days, Arsene Wenger taking over Manchester United wouldn't even do it justice. Clough and Leeds United manager Don Revie had a recognised rivalry dating back many years, Clough frequently lambasted Leeds United's bully-boy tactics and their appalling disciplinary record. He believed their success was shallow and un-warranted, and that they hadn't achieved what they achieved fairly and in the right manner. Clough was a purist, a man who believed the game should be played with grace and to entertain, his mentality was the opposite of his rival Don Revie.
Revie was to takeover as the new England manager, a job in which he would achieve nothing. Another big suprise in Brian Clough's move to Leeds United was his assistant manager and right-hand man Peter Taylor would not leave Brighton to join him. The successful combination of brains and man-management had dispanded. Clough arrived at Leeds United to a hostile reception from his players, Clough did himself no favours in trying to mend that relationship, issueing the following words to his new team upon arrival: " You can all throw your medals in the bin because they were not won fairly." Clough's reign at Leeds United would prove unsuccessful and incredibly short. He lasted at Leeds United just 44 days before he was dismissed for poor results, how did however receive an estimated 98,000 pounds pay-out, a huge amount at the time.
On Januart 6th 1975, Brian Clough and Peter Taylor re-united and took on the task of guiding mid-table division two outfit Nottingham Forest to something special. What was to be achieved here will undoubtably remain one of the greatest sporting achievements of all-time, and undoubtably Clough's finest hour. Clough wasn't actually joined by Taylor until July 1976, but Clough still managed to improve on Notts Forest's 13th place position in Division Two and deliver an 8th place finish. Now it was the first season with the Clough and Taylor combination back in action, and the season would prove memorable, as Nottingham Forest ran out champions and returned to footballs top flight. This alone was an incredible feat, but the season after embarked further success, Clough and Taylor did the unthinkable, winning back-to-back titles, and crowning Nottingham Forest Champions of Division One and England, whilst also delivering a League Cup final triumph over Liverpool in the same season. On February 9th 1979, Brian Clough signed Britain's first 1 million pound footballer, Trevor Francis. The next season so Nottingham Forest finish runners up to Liverpool, but they did however retain the League Cup with victory over Southampton. The failure to deliver the title was quickly forgiven though, because to coincide with the League Cup, Brian Clough did the unthinkable, he won the European Cup with a 1-0 victory over Malmo FF, in just 4 seasons, Brian Clough taken on board a mid-table division two side and made them Champions of Europe. The next season Clough retained the European Cup with a victory over Hamburger SV, and retained the League Cup trophy again for the 3rd successive season with victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite winning the European Cup twice, Clough regarded his greatest achievement to be the record breaking unbeaten run his team set between 26 November 1977 and 9 December 1978, the team went undefeated for 42 league games. The next major success for Clough's Nottingham Forest wouldn't come until the 88-89 season, another League Cup final triumph, this time over Luton Town. In 91 and 92, Clough would also come runners up in two FA Cup finals to Tottenham and Manchester United, and in the season on 1992-93, Brian Clough's 18 season reign as Nottingham Forest manager would come to an end.
Behind the scenes, Alcholism would begin to take it's toll on Brian Clough's life, and that season, one of footballs most famous managers announced his retirement. Another key moment in the story of Brian Clough was his eventual fall-out with family friend and assistant manager Peter Taylor, Taylor announced his retirement in May 1983, but 6 months later would re-instate himself in football taking over Clough's former club Derby County, and a transfer involving winger John Robertson would create a rift between the two that was never rectified before Taylor's passing day. Taylor lost his life in October 1990, and Nottingham Forest assistant manager was alleged to have phoned Brian Clough with the news, with Clough saying nothing and putting the phone down, later to break down in tears at the loss of his friend, and the news further enhanced his problem with alcohol. Clough and his family attended the funeral of Peter Taylor, and Clough would later go on to dedicate his Autobiography to him in 1994.
Future years would see a rapid decline in health for Brian Clough, the affects of alcohol meant he required a liver transplant in January 2003, however, the life of the great Brian Clough would come to an end on September 20th 2004 in Ward 30, Derby City Hospital, Brian Clough would lose his life to Stomach Cancer at the age of 69.
People will tell tales tales of Brian Clough for years to come, some good some bad, mostly all entertaining, his statue will remain in his birthplace Middlesbrough, and one will later be erected outside Derby County's Pride Park in August this year. Clough also has a stand named after him at former club Nottingham Forest.
I truely believe football will never produce a man like Brian Clough ever again, he was one of a kind, and as famously dubbed by many " The greatest manager England never had. "
