Right man, right place, wrong time: Brian Clough at Leeds

Over the past five days we have taken a look at Premier League managers who were in the right place at the wrong time, but today we look at the big one . . . Old big 'ed Brian Clough at Leeds United.

Clough was never a big fan of Don Revie's Leeds side so it was a huge shock when he replaced Revie at Elland Road. What came as a bigger shock was that Clough managed to last 44 days before being axed.

BRIAN CLOUGH  LEEDS UNITED

JULY 1974 - SEPTEMBER 1974

 

The CV:  We all know about big 'ed the manager, but Brian Clough enjoyed an highly successful playing career. Born in Middlesbrough in 1935, Clough

was a prolific striker for Boro and Sunderland. He bagged 251 goals in just 274 league games. This phenomenal ratio brought the Teesside international

recognition. In 1958 Clough won two England caps. The promising career came to a premature end when the striker sustained a cruciate ligament injury. With his

playing days over the ex-international went into management.

 

In 1965 Clough was appointed manager of Fourth Division Hartlepool United. The new boss installed Peter Taylor as his assistant at the Victoria Ground. Taylor had been a team-mate of Clough at Middlesbrough. The duo led Pool to a creditable eighth place finish in 1967. The North East club had spent most of their 57-year  history rooted to the bottom of the Football League.

 

These noticeable achievement made Clough and Taylor hot property. In 1968 they were recruited by Derby County. The once proud Rams had fallen on hard times and looked destined for relegation to the Third Division. The appointment was to prove a masterstroke, a year later Derby won the Second Division (now Championship) title. Much of the credit has to be reserved for Taylor. The loyal number two certainly had an eye for a player. It was Taylor who instigated the purchase of Dave Mackay, a signing which breathed life into a fallen giant. In 1972 the Rams won the First Division title for the fist time in their history. 

 

The names Gemmill, O'Hare, Todd and McFarland were now household names. While their charismatic manager instantly became a television personality. The outspoken boss was a regular on chat shows and was never afraid to air his views. These outbursts caused ruptions at The Baseball Ground. Chairman Sam Longson grew tired of his manager's controversial views and veiled criticism. In 1973 Clough offered his resignation. The board accepted and Clough was replaced by Mackay. The Rams fans protested as irate supporters marched through the city. Meawhile the County players signed a petition demanding the reinstatement of their managerial team. This public support failed to sway Longson and the highly successful tenure was over.

 

Clough and Taylor briefly reappeared at Brighton & Hove Albion. The South Coast adventure was brought to an abrupt end when Clough was appointed Leeds United manager.

 

The Nightmare: The move to Elland Road was doomed from the outset. Leeds originally wanted to hire Clough and Taylor, but Taylor decided to stay with

Brighton.

 

Clough needed his faithful ally in West Yorkshire. Clough was stepping into the shoes of the legendary Don Revie. Revie left Elland Road to become England manger. On the surface the two men were peas from the same pod. The pair were born in Middlesbrough before embarking on successful playing careers. Both had taken provincial clubs from the lower reaches of the Second Division to the summit of English Football. That is where the similarities ended.

 

Under Revie Leeds were renowned for their muscular approach. Their strong arm tactics attracted plenty of critics who hated Leeds style of play. Brian Clough was the loudest of those dissenting voices. The Derby manager expressing his dislike for Billy Bremner and company. The appointment was akin to a vegetarian been named chief executive of McDonald's.

 

You might have thought the new United manager may have offered an olive branch to his new charges. In typical style Cloughie ignored convention wisdom. During his first training session the gaffer continued his tirade. He told the reigning League Champions to "Throw all their medals into the nearest dustbin, because they had all been won by blooming cheating."

 

The rant had little effect, Bremner was sent off in the 1974 Charity Shield. The fiery Scot exchanged blows with Kevin Keegan. Both players famously removed their shirts as they left the field of play. The FA threw the book at Bremner, the Leeds captain was suspended for two months. 

 

The League campaign began with a 3-2 defeat at Stoke City and QPR won at Elland Road to pile the pressure on Clough. A fortunate win over Birmingham City offered temporary rest bite. But further defeats to Manchester City and Burnley signalled the parting of the ways. After just 44 days in charge Brian Clough parted company with Leeds.

 

Iconic Moment: The first training session. The begining of the End.

 

What Happened Next? Jimmy Armfield stepped into the Elland Road breach. The former England defender led United to the 1975 European Cup Final. The Whites lost a tightly contested final to holders Bayern Munich.

 

Brian Clough succeeded where his former employers failed. In January 1975 Clough was named Nottingham Forest manager. One of first acts was to call Peter Taylor. The dynamic duo decided to reform their partnership at The City Ground. Forest were marooned in the Second Division when Cloughie arrived. Two years later the East Midlanders gained promotion to the top flight. The Reds took the big boys by storm as they cruised to the title. The newly crowned League Champions set their sights on Europe. The continent was conquered when a solitary Trevor Francis goal won the 1979 European Cup Final. For good measure Clough's men successful defended their crown a year later.

 

Forest also won the League Cup four times during Clough's 18-year reign. The Gods failed to shine on Don Revie. After England's failure to qualify for the 1978 World Cup. Revie resigned as England boss. He was branded a mercenary after accepting a lucrative contract to manage the United Arab Emirates. The three-year-deal was worth a reported £340,00.

 

The daddy of managerial mishaps even made it to the big screen. In 2009 'The Damned United' hit the nations cinema. Based on David Peace's book the film retold Cloughie's Elland Road torment. The film was notable for Michael Sheen brilliant portrayal of old big 'ed.