MX23RW : Sunday, May 19 09:46:24| >> :60:1575:1575:

Brian Clough's greatest quotes on what would have been his 85th birthday

The two-time European Cup winner would have been 85 on March 21.

Brian Clough, who would have been 85 on Saturday, was renowned as one of football's most outspoken and quick-witted managers.

Here, the PA news agency recalls some of his sayings.

On how he rated himself: "I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business, but I was in the top one."

On the importance of passing to feet: "If God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he'd have put grass up there."

On the influx of foreign players in the British game: "I can't even spell spaghetti never mind talk Italian. How could I tell an Italian to get the ball? He might grab mine."

Clough (left) was known as 'Old Big 'Ead'
Clough (left) was known as 'Old Big 'Ead' (PA)

Explaining his nickname Old Big 'Ead: "On occasions I have been big-headed. I think most people are when they get in the limelight. I call myself Big Head just to remind myself not to be."

On Martin O'Neill: "If he'd been English or Swedish, he'd have walked the England job."

On the streaker who appeared during a Derby game against Manchester United: "The Derby players have seen more of his balls than the one they're meant to be playing with."

On dealing with Roy Keane: "I only ever hit Roy the once. He got up so I couldn't have hit him very hard."

On his drinking: "Walk on water? I know most people out there will be saying that instead of walking on it, I should have taken more of it with my drinks. They are absolutely right."

Clough won trophies with Derby and Nottingham Forest
Clough won trophies with Derby and Nottingham Forest (PA)

On not getting the England manager's job: "I'm sure the England selectors thought if they took me on and gave me the job, I'd want to run the show. They were shrewd, because that's exactly what I would have done."

On too many managers getting the sack: "If a chairman sacks the manager he initially appointed, he should go as well."

Referring to Sir Alex Ferguson's failure to win two successive European Cups: "For all his horses, knighthoods and championships, he hasn't got two of what I've got. And I don't mean balls!"

On women's football: "I like my women to be feminine, not sliding into tackles and covered in mud."

On dealing with a player who disagrees: "We talk about it for 20 minutes and then we decide I was right."

On then England goalkeeper David Seaman: "That Seaman is a handsome young man but he spends too much time looking in his mirror, rather than at the ball. You can't keep goal with hair like that."

On Eric Cantona's infamous kung fu kick at a fan: "I'd have cut his balls off."

On how he would like to be remembered: "I want no epitaphs of profound history and all that type of thing. I contributed – I would hope they would say that, and I would hope somebody liked me."

ID:393665: cacheID:393665:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7444:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester United midfielder Nemanja Matic pictured in December 2019
Read Next:
Matic 'in talks for new Man United deal'
>
Read more about Brian Clough Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City37277393336088
2Arsenal37275589286186
3Liverpool372310484414379
4Aston Villa37208976562068
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs371961271611063
6Chelsea371791175621360
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle371761481602157
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd37176145558-357
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham371410135971-1252
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton371212135560-548
11Bournemouth37139155365-1248
12Crystal Palace371210155258-646
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37137175063-1346
14Fulham37128175159-844
15Everton37139153949-1040
16Brentford37109185461-739
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3789204766-1929
18Luton TownLuton3768235081-3126
RBurnley3759234076-3624
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd37372735101-6616


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!