Footballing legend Brian Clough has passed away today, aged 69.
His family announced today that Mr Clough had succumbed to stomach cancer. He was admitted to hospital last week, and died peacefully today in Derby City Hospital, surrounded by his family.
The statement read, “It is with the deepest sadness that we announce that Brian Clough has died peacefully at the age of 69.
“Brian was an in-patient at Derby City General Hospital, and his family were with him when he passed away in hospital on September 20.
“Shortly after a successful liver transplant Brian was diagnosed with stomach cancer but only became seriously ill during the past week.
“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 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.”
The statement also said that the funeral will be a private, family affair, to be followed by a memorial service in due course.
Brian Howard Clough was born in Middlesbrough in March 1935 and began his professional career for his hometown club at the age of 20, scoring 197 goals in 213 games. In 58/59, he was the League’s top scorer then in 1959 when Boro narrowly missed promotion, he accused his teammates of deliberately conceding goals.
Also in 1959, nine Boro players signed a ’round robin’ statement to try and have him removed as skipper, citing his “harsh words” and an apparent tendency to sulk!
From there he moved to Sunderland in 1961 where he remained for two seasons, scoring 53 times.
On Boxing Day 1962 a knee injury after a collision with Bury’s goalkeeper cut his playing career short but he was then appointed Youth Team Coach.
In 1965 he became manager of Hartlepool United as the then youngest ever League manager, moving to Derby County in 1967. During six years in charge of the midlands team, he guided them to the division two championship 1968/69, the League Championship 1971/72, and to the semi-finals of the European Championship. He resigned after conflict with the chairman and Derby supporters staged protests in a bid to have him reinstated.
In 1973 he moved to become gaffer of Brighton & Hove Albion where he stayed for eight months, before shifting camps to Leeds United, replacing Don Revie – but he was in charge there for only 44 days, from 20th July 1974 to 13th September.
In January 1975 he moved to Nottingham Forest as the new manager, where another former Sunderland legend, Raich Carter, had occupied the hotseat 20 years before. This was where Cloughie arguably achieved the greatest of his managerial accomplishments. They were 2nd division champions in 76/77, league champions AND League Cup winners in 77/78, European Cup AND League Cup Winners 78/79, as well as League runners-up. In 1979/80 they won the European Cup, European Supercup, and were finalists in both the World Club championship and League Cup. In 1980/81 they made it to the final of the European Supercup and World Club championships (again). In 88/89, Forest won the Simod Cup and League Cup, and the League Cup was theirs again in 89/90. In 90/91 they were FA Cup finalists, then in 91/92 won the Zenith Data Systems trophy and were finalists in the League Cup.
When he was awarded the OBE in the early 90’s, Clough himself joked that OBE stood for “Old Big ‘Ead”.
In 92/93 the club began to struggle, the situation made worse by Teddy Sheringham leaving but no recognised goalscorer replacing him, and amidst board dissatisfaction, the club announced that Clough would retire at the end of that season; his family were angry he himself hadn’t been allowed to make that particularly personal announcement.
His final game in charge was an emotional one for any football fan who will recall seeing the footage on television; Forest lost to Sheffield United and were relegated but the team supporters still treated him as a hero. He was succeeded at the helm of the City Ground by Jimmy Armfield.
And as a player, he still holds the record for the fastest player to reach 250 goals.
Derby County FC have announced that they will observe one minute’s silence in honour of Brian Clough, at this weekend’s match against Wigan; they also said that books of condolence will be opened at 9.30am at Pride Park’s West Stand tomorrow morning (Tues 21st).
Brian Clough Management Stats:
Hartlepool: P84, W35, D13, L36
Derby: P289, W135, D70, L84
Brighton: P32, W12, D8, L12
Leeds: P7, W1, D3, L3
Forest: P907, W411, D246, 250
“I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business – but let’s say I was in the top one.”
Credits: BrianClough.com; Nott’m Forest FC, Derby County FC, Soccerbase.
