Brian Clough dies
Football legend Brian Clough died in hospital today at the age of 69.
The flamboyant manager and outspoken TV pundit had been suffering from cancer of the stomach at Derby City Hospital.
The former boss of Nottingham Forest and Derby County won successive European Cups in 1979 and 1980 and two league titles.
Described as "the best manager England never had" he often clashed with the football establishment - whether directors or what he called the "grey suits" of the Football Association.
The man known as "Old Big 'Ead" once said: "I'm sure the England selectors thought if they took me on and gave me the job, then I would want to run the show."
He and his wife Barbara had three children Libby, Simon and Nigel, an England international who played under his father at Nottingham Forest.
Former Forest and England player Garry Birtles said: "He was a genius. We will never see his like again."
Birtles added: "I will remember him with great fondness, great affection. His manmanagement skills were legendary. He was a winner and he made everyone who played for him feel like a winner. His achievement in winning the European Cup back to back with Nottingham Forest was like someone like Barnsley doing that now." Forest's undefeated run in the league in the Seventies was only beaten by Arsenal this season.
Clough became one of the first TV football pundits, always ready with a strident opinion or memorable witticism.
He famously told viewers to "put their feet up" before an England World Cup qualifying game in 1973 because the Polish goalkeeper Jan Tomaszewski was "a clown".
Poland forced a draw and England failed to qualify but it did not stop "Cloughie" voicing his opinions.
Clough was dogged by ill health since retiring from football in 1993. In later years his increasingly haggard appearance, ruddy cheeks and sometimes slurred speech led to speculation about his drinking.
In 2002, he revealed what had long been suspected. In his autobiography, Cloughie - Walking On Water, he admitted: "I dropped my biggest clanger by getting into drink."
He had a liver transplant in January last year after doctors told him he had only two months to live. During his management career Clough denied allegations of taking "bungs" when signing players.
Nottingham Forest recently named a grandstand after him and erected a bronze bust at the club in his honour. He was given the OBE in 1991.
Born on Teesside on March 21 1935, Clough became a professional footballer with his local club Middlesbrough at the age of 17.
During his career at Ayresome Park he was leading scorer for three successive seasons and eventually scored 204 goals in 222 games. In 1959 he won his only two England caps.
Two years later, North East rivals Sunderland paid £45,000 to bring him to Roker Park.
He went on to score 63 goals in just 74 appearances for the club until his career was cut short by a knee injury sustained in 1962.
Clough stayed in the North East to cut his teeth as a manager, becoming boss at Hartlepool United at the age of 30.
Crucially, he appointed Peter Taylor as his assistant. It was this partnership with Taylor, who died in 1990, that would be the key to his future successes.
