Brian Clough

Brian Clough OBE - (21 March 1935 – 20 September 2004)

For 18 years, Brian Clough was Nottingham Forest. He took a side languising in the second division and created Football League champions, Wembley winners and double European champions in 1979 and 1980.

Cloughie was a one-off personality: outspoken, abrasive and, at times, outrageous. He wasn't called Old Big 'Ead for nothing. However, those who knew the other side of the man, recall remarkable examples of generosity and fierce loyalty.

The word ‘genius’ is often used, but in Brian Clough’s case it is entirely fitting. His achievements will never be forgotten both in Nottingham and beyond.

He is most notable for his successes with Derby County and Nottingham Forest together with his loyal assistant manager Peter Taylor. The achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest is considered to be one of the greatest in English football history.

Clough is widely considered to be one of the greatest managers of the English game and the greatest English manager never to have managed the England team.

On being asked about his attitude towards the England selectors he replied in typical style: 'I’m sure the England selectors thought if they took me on and gave me the job, I’d want to run the show. They were shrewd because that’s exactly what I would have done'.

The loss of this legendary football manager in September 2004 cast a giant shadow not just over Nottingham but the entire sporting world. You didn't have to be a supporter of Nottingham Forest FC to respect ‘Cloughie’. 

You can visit his statue just off Old Market Square in Nottingham and even get a photo with the man himself. This has become a tradition of sorts for all football fans when visiting the area.