Brian Clough dies

Last updated : 20 September 2004 By Tony Scholes

Clough has been out of the game since he retired as Nottingham Forest manager eleven years ago and his health was thought to be improving after he had a liver transplant early in 2003.

His playing career was cut short by injury but in 274 league appearances for his two clubs Middlesbrough and Sunderland he scored an incredible 251 goals. All those games were played in the top two divisions but his lack of pace was to cost him a long international career, he made just two appearances for his country.

He moved into management with Hartlepool before joining Derby County. He took the midlands club into the First Division in 1969 and within three years had lifted the title to bring European Cup football to the Baseball Ground.

After less than successful spells at Brighton and Leeds he went to Derby’s rivals Nottingham Forest. Within a year they were promoted and a year later won the First Division and then in the following years picked up the European Cup twice.

He had established himself as one of the top managers in the country and there was no doubt he was the most popular. Whenever the England job was vacant the fans wanted Clough, but the FA consistently overlooked him although he was always quick to tell them he was the number one candidate.


Never had there been a manager with so much confidence and that was always instilled in each and everyone of his players. He had the uncanny knack of picking up apparently ordinary players and turning them into Champions.

I’ll leave the last word with the Derby County Supporters Trust – Rams Trust – who have today called for one of the stands at Pride Park to be renamed The Brian Clough Stand, there is one already at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground.

Of him they said, “The six years in charge at Derby - and of course his subsequent achievements when taking himself and able assistant, Peter Taylor, to the City Ground Nottingham - put East Midlands football at the pinnacle of the game. He would no doubt survey the current plight of both clubs with sadness and regret.