In an exclusive chat with Football FanCast, Nottingham Forest legend Viv Anderson lifted the lid on life under iconic former manager Brian Clough.
Anderson hails Clough as “one of the best”
They don’t make them like Clough anymore. The former Leeds United, Brighton and Nottingham Forest manager remains one of the greatest managers that English football has ever seen, and Anderson had the pleasure of playing 357 times for his Forest side.
The right-back achieved everything with Clough in the Midlands, winning the now-named Champions League twice, the League Cup twice, one league title and one Super Cup. It was the greatest spell in Nottingham Forest’s history.
Anderson is unlikely to be the last to share an insight into working for such a unique manager. He’s somebody who defined an era, leaving a permanent stamp on English football in the process.
|
Brian Clough |
Career trophies |
|---|---|
|
League title |
77/78 (Forest), 71/72 (Derby) |
|
Champions League |
79/80, 78/79 (Forest) |
|
Super Cup |
79/80 (Forest) |
|
League Cup |
89/90, 88/89, 78/79, 77/78 (Forest) |
Anderson didn’t hold back his praise when speaking about his former manager after achieving such great success together. The 69-year-old spoke about his former manager as one of the best in world football.
In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, in partnership with UK bookmaker BetSelect, Anderson said: “I think everybody who played under Brian Clough would say the same thing.
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“You’d just do anything he said because ultimately, he was the manager, and he knew what he was talking about, and he convinced you it was the right thing to do. For me, Brian Clough was one of the best managers who ever lived.”
Given that Anderson also worked with Premier League great Sir Alex Ferguson, that’s certainly high praise. Though, as Anderson also pointed out, Clough wasn’t always easy to read.
Anderson reveals “bizarre” Clough management
Whilst singing Clough’s praises, Anderson also shared insight into what it was like to work with the legendary manager when asked if any modern-day figures are comparable.
“You’re absolutely joking, aren’t you? He was a one-off. There’s no other Brian Clough. You can go through them all. He’s just a one-off. He did things you just wouldn’t dream of.
“When I was a young lad playing in the team and did really well on a Saturday, and we got a result, I’d pass him in the corridor, and he wouldn’t talk to me. Bizarre. He’d do things you would not believe. So he was a one-off and will never be repeated.”
Nottingham Forest are unlikely to ever have a greater manager than Clough and whilst they’ve had a much-needed glimpse of European football again this season, Champions League glory is some way off these days.
In a world full of elite coaches, especially in the Premier League, finding another man like the Forest legend is an impossible job, according to Anderson.
In Anderson’s own words, Clough was a “one-off and will never be repeated”.