Football salutes Clough the legend

Footall Association chairman Geoff Thompson described Brian Clough’s death as “a great loss to the game” as tributes poured in for the managerial legend.

The former Nottingham Forest and Derby County boss, who won back-to-back European Cups with Forest in 1979 and 1980, died earlier today aged 69 at Derby City Hospital, where he had been suffering from stomach cancer.

Clough underwent a successful liver transplant in 2003 but was subsequently diagnosed with cancer. He only became seriously ill with the condition in the past week and had members of his family at his bedside.

The outspoken Clough, who, when awarded the OBE in 1991, joked that the initials stood for ‘Old Big Ead’, was described by many as the best manager England never had.

On top of his two European Cup triumphs with Forest, he also won two League titles with both Forest and Derby and four League Cups.

Although Clough was overlooked for the England post, Thompson led the tributes to him, saying: “On behalf of the FA, I would like to express my deepest sadness at the passing away of Brian Clough earlier today.

“Brian was not only a unique figure in the game but one of the most successful managers that we have ever known. We will be miss his company, his character and his insight.

“This is a great loss to football, but we will always remember his considerable contribution to the game in this country.

“Our thoughts and sympathy are with Brian’s family at this time.”

A Premier League spokesman said: “It is a sad and tragic loss for football. Brian Clough was in many people’s eyes a football genius and one of the greatest managers who ever lived.”

Forest fans began to gather at the City Ground this evening to pay their own tribute and Forest chairman Nigel Doughty issued a statement which read: “This is a very sad day for everyone connected with Nottingham Forest.

“The success he had here goes down as one of the great football achievements of all. Wherever you go in the world, the city of Nottingham has become synonymous with Robin Hood and Brian Clough and there is no doubt he has touched the lives of so many people in the area.

“His record of success is quite staggering and when he first took over as manager in 1975 no-one could begin to even dream of the levels of success he was about to bring to this club.

“Our thoughts at this time are with his family but everyone at Nottingham Forest will have memories of a man who brought unprecedented success to this club.”

Current Forest manager Joe Kinnear said: “Obviously I didn’t know Brian too well but there is no doubt that he is a football legend and as a manager he was simply a genius.

“The success he had at this football club speaks volumes. To win the kind of things he did while competing against the Liverpools, Manchester Uniteds and Arsenals was a staggering achievement. To go on and conquer Europe was even more remarkable.”

Meanwhile, Pride Park’s flags were flying at half-mast today and Derby fans were laying floral tributes outside the stadium.

Derby chief executive Jeremy Keith, speaking on behalf of the Derby board, said: “Brian is a major part of the rich heritage the current board inherited. He was this club’s greatest ever manager and, in the eyes of Rams supporters, the best the world has ever seen.

“Under Brian, Derby County were crowned champions of England and we welcomed top-class European opposition to the Baseball Ground.

“The contribution he made, not just to Derby County but to the county itself, will remain as a lasting legacy to the man who had made Derby his home for the last 30 years.

“Everybody involved with Derby County send their heartfelt sympathies to Brian’s wife Barbara and his family at this sad time.”

Books of condolence will be opened in Pride Park’s West Stand and the Council House in Derby from 9.30am tomorrow.

Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, had many dealings with Clough and found him a unique character to do business with.

Taylor told the Press Association: “He did not play by the usual rules. For a start he would not speak on the phone.

“One one occasion I had arranged to see him about an injured player and he kept me waiting for 10 hours. Finally I got to speak to him and said that we would pay some of the player’s wages. He replied: ‘Okay, but there’s no deal unless you come and watch us against Everton on Saturday because my brother-in-law is coming and he hasn’t got anyone to sit next to’.

“I had to agree, and because he had kept me waiting and knew I would be late home he gave me some cut-glass for my missus. That was Brian Clough – he was unique. He was a great player, a great manager and a great character.”

Frank Clark, another of Clough’s stalwarts at Forest between 1975-78 and currently deputy chief executive of the League Managers’ Association, was stunned to hear of his death.

“The last couple of times I saw him, he looked better than I had seen him for a long, long time.” said Clark.

“His mind was bright, he was getting about on television programmes and doing a bit of after-dinner speaking and he was full of himself, so this has come as a major surprise.

“His greatest strength was his man management. He hadn’t learned it from books, he had not been on any management or psychology courses, or anything like that. He was just a natural. He had this great gift of getting 100% from everyone who played and worked for him.

“Everyone went out knowing exactly what was required of them. The system was simple – you knew what was expected and if you didn’t do it, you would be told about it.”

Confirmation of Clough’s death came from Derby City Hospital in mid-afternoon and, on behalf of the Clough family, a spokeswoman said: “The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Dr Jan Freeman and the staff of Ward 30 for the wonderful care they gave him.

“They would also like to thank the donor family (for Clough’s liver transplant) for allowing Brian to have 21 months of health and happiness.

“The family would naturally appreciate privacy at this sad time, and kindly ask members of the media to respect this.”

She confirmed that there will be a private family funeral and that a memorial service will be held at a later date, with details to be announced.