Brian Clough

Brian Clough, OBE (March 21, 1935–September 20 2004) was a talented footballer and subsequently a successful football manager, most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. He is noted for his playfully abrasive style when interviewed and mock-exaggerated opinions of his own abilities (he nicknamed himself "Old Big 'Ead").

Management career

Clough then went on to manage Hartlepools United (now Hartlepool United) with Peter Taylor as his assistant manager, before they both joined Derby County as manager and assistant manager in 1967. At Derby, Clough and Taylor won promotion to the Football League First Division (then the highest echelon of English football) and then won the Championship with Derby in the 1971-72 season.

Related Topics:
Hartlepool United - 1967 - Football League First Division

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Clough's outspoken comments against football's establishment (which led to Derby being threatened with expulsion from the League) led to him falling out with the board of directors at Derby, and Clough and Taylor left the club. Together they spent a brief period at Brighton and Hove Albion before Clough on his own took over as manager of Leeds United when Don Revie was appointed manager of England. Clough was manager of Leeds for only 44 days before he was fired after upsetting many of Leeds's star players.

Related Topics:
Brighton and Hove Albion - Leeds United - Don Revie

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In January 1975, Clough made a quick return to management with Nottingham Forest who were an ungainly Second Division side. He transformed the club's fortunes and his first success at the club came in his second full season (1976-77) when they won promotion to the First Division. In their first season after promotion they won the League Cup and then were crowned champions of the First Division. And during the 1978-79 season, Clough signed the 24-year-old Birmingham City striker Trevor Francis - Britain's first £1million footballer. Forest retained the League Cup and then the season was rounded off with victory in the European Cup. A year later, Clough guided Forest to a second successive European Cup and a third successive League Cup final, though this time they were defeated.

Related Topics:
1975 - League Cup - Birmingham City - Trevor Francis - European Cup

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It was not until 1989 that Clough and Forest would enjoy another major trophy success, this time over Luton Town in the League Cup again. A year later, Clough guided Forest to another League Cup victory, this time over Oldham Athletic. In 1991 Forest reached their first FA Cup final under Brian Clough, but lost 2-1 to Tottenham Hotspur. They reached the League Cup final again in 1992, but lost 1-0 to Manchester United.

Related Topics:
1989 - FA Cup - Tottenham Hotspur - League Cup - Manchester United

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The 1992-93 season was Nottingham Forest's 18th season under Brian Clough - and the club's last. They were one of the 22 clubs in the new Premier League, but the sale of key players like Teddy Sheringham and Des Walker saw the club's fortunes take a sharp decline and they were bottom virtually all season. Just before a 2-1 defeat against Sheffield United confirmed the club's relegation after 16 years in the top flight, Clough announced his retirement as manager.

Related Topics:
Teddy Sheringham - Des Walker - Sheffield United

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