Brian Clough’s former clubs have paid tribute to the footballing legend following his death this morning.
Mick McCarthy said, “It’s very sad news. Cloughy was a great football man and a fantastic character. He wasn’t just a great manager, his playing record was tremendous. He’ll be a sad loss to the game.”
SAFC Chairman Bob Murray said, “I am honoured to have been a Sunderland supporter when Brian played for the club. He is a legend. I saw the match at Roker Park when he suffered the terrible knee injury. The game would never be allowed to take place in football today, such were the atrocious conditions. It was so sad that he never had the chance to fulfil his potential at Sunderland.
“But his achievements as a manager may never again be matched at the type of club he managed. He was a guest of the club when we played Middlesbrough recently and he was full of life. To see him was an inspiration.
“It’s a tragic day for the club. He was a phenomenon, such a personality as a player and a manager.”
And Charlie Hurley said from his home in Hertfordshire, “It’s really sad. He was a great player for Sunderland and a great individual. I played in the same team as him and played against him. It was my job to stop him scoring, which was never easy.”
Nottingham Forest have issued a statement saying, “The success he had here goes down as one of the greatest football achievements of all time. 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 current Forest manager Joe Kinnear said, “As a manager he was simply a genius.”
Derby County have called on their supporters to make suggestions for a lasting tribute to Cloughie and flags at Pride Park have been at half mast today. County issued a statement saying, “The contribution he made, not just to Derby County, but to the county itself, will remain as a lasting legacy to the man who has made Derby his home for the last 30 years.”
Current Derby County manager and another former Sunderland player George Burley said, “Brian was one of this country’s greatest ever managers with a style of his own – we’ll never see his type again.”
Hartlepool United said “His impact at Pools was massive, and not just in picking the side – one particular rumour was that he used to drive the team coach!
“He was a true footballing legend, a fantastic player and a superb manager. We are proud that he set out on such an illustrious managerial career here at Hartlepool United.”
And there was a touching tribute from Steve Gibson, chairman of Cloughie’s hometown club Middlesbrough, where he began his career as a 20 year-old.
Gibson said, “It’s a sad day, not just for the football club but for the town of Middlesbrough and Teesside as a whole.
“Brian was a Boro lad through and through who never forgot his roots. He was a frequent visitor to the town and to the club in recent months.
“I’m sure I speak for all Middlesbrough supporters when I say that he was one of our all-time greatest players and a true character of the game.
And Boro gaffer Steve McLaren said, “Cloughie was a true legend of the game – a wonderful, charismatic manager whose record spoke for itself.
“Boro supporters have left me in no doubt of his legendary status on Teesside. He was a real character – I only recently backed the campaign to have Cloughie knighted, an accolade he’d have fully deserved.”
