Brian Clough's record as a manager immediately places him alongside the likes of Alf Ramsey, Alex Ferguson, Matt Busby and Bill Shankly as one of the all-time greats. He took both Derby County and Nottingham Forest to be champions of England, and then took Forest to be twice European champions. But that is only a small part of why he remains an enduring figure of fascination: he had a quick and sharp wit that could reduce grown men to tears of laughter or pain; he was a true old Labour supporter, yet had an attitude towards money that would have meant he was equally at home in the City as on a football pitch; he intimidated his team and opponents alike, yet swore the secret to his success was down to getting his players as relaxed as possible before a match - even if that meant taking them out for a night on the town or visiting a red light district. Richard Williams, himself a Nottingham Forest fan, looks at the entire life and career of Cloughie, from his early days as a prolific goalscorer, through his rise to fame as a manager and pundit, and on to his sad decline, brought about by a drink problem that would eventually force him to have a liver transplant.
He also assesses some of the more controverisal aspects of his career, such as the allegations that he liked a bung, and his handling of Justin Fashanu. The most detailed and revealing book ever published about Clough, this is truly a book that all sports fans will want to read.
- ISBN10 1409103501
- ISBN13 9781409103509
- Publish Date 2 August 2012
- Publish Status Cancelled
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Orion Publishing Co
- Imprint Orion (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd )
- Format Paperback
- Pages 416
- Language English