Brian Clough was one of the most successful and charismatic managers in English football history, who won two league titles and two European Cups with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. However, between those hugely successful spells at Derby and Forest, Clough had a short and turbulent stint as Leeds boss in 1974.
Having arrived at the reigning league champions from Brighton in July to succeed new England manager Don Revie, Clough is said to have told his players to throw their medals in the bin. He also criticised their style of play, which was based on physicality and intimidation, and tried to impose his own philosophy, which emphasised flair and creativity. He also alienated the Leeds fans, who adored Revie and his team, by calling them “cheats” and “dirty” in the media.
Clough’s tenure at Leeds was marked by poor results, dressing room unrest, and boardroom pressure. He won only one of his six league games, and was knocked out of the Charity Shield and the European Cup by Liverpool and Bayern Munich respectively. He clashed with several senior players, such as Billy Bremner, Johnny Giles, and Norman Hunter, who were loyal to Revie and resented Clough’s changes. He also had a strained relationship with the Leeds chairman, Manny Cussins, who had appointed him against the wishes of the majority of the board.
On 12 September 1974, after only 44 days in charge, Clough was sacked by Leeds, who paid him £98,000 in compensation. He later described his time at Leeds as “the biggest mistake of my life” and admitted that he had underestimated the bond between Revie and his players. He also claimed that he was the victim of a conspiracy by the Leeds board, who wanted to get rid of him from the start.
Clough’s spell at Leeds remains one of the most notorious and shortest managerial reigns in English football history. It was also the subject of a bestselling novel and a film adaptation, both titled The Damned United.