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Old Big Head had never liked Revie's Leeds team - and had been
characteristically vocal about his views. So it was a bit of a
surprise when the Brighton manager was picked as the Don's
successor. Clough's brilliance on the field (251 goals in 274
games) had been followed up with a great career as a manager,
leading Derby to the League title in 1971/72.
He arrived in a whirlwind of publicity and blew away quite a few
of the players - many of whom had been hoping that John Giles would
have been offered the chance to take over. Duncan McKenzie arrived
from Forest, McGovern and O'Hare joined from Clough's old stamping
ground of Derby. But after just 44 days in the job, "player power"
allegedly forced him out - Manny Cussins deciding to back the team
that had brought home the cups for the last few years rather than
the man he had hoped would continue the success. Clough left with
his contract paid up, and could afford to take a drop down to
Nottingham Forest where he went on to win the League, League Cup
and European Cup in the same period that Leeds were slipping
further and further from the top. Would he have achieved the same
at Leeds if he'd been given the backing? Probably - but we'll never
know....
mozzy says: Leeds missed out on a great opportunity with
Clough.Don't do the same with Terry Venables.
Andrew Smith says: It is a great regret that Cloughie didn't
work out at Leeds. He would have helped the club continue their
then wonderful run at the top of British Football. N'mind
Brian.
Stuart S says: I considered the appointment of Clough in 1974 as
inexplicable. He was surely Leeds' most outspoken critic, and let's
face it, that's saying something... and his way of attempting to
win over the players was something like, "Chuck all the medals
you've won in the bin, as they weren't won fairly!"
Clough was still quite young, 38 I think, and how he thought he'd
rule over such powerful personalities as Bremner, Giles and Hunter
I just can't fathom... it was the worst thing Leeds could have
done, and it showed after 44 days.
Steve Pearce says: I thought it was the daftest appointment we
could have made. Cloughie, and I do not use that name
affectionately, had been a bitter opponent of anything to do with
Leeds United. He apparently detested Don Revie and felt none of our
cups had been won fairly.....who in their right minds would then go
and have him as manager? Presumably the feelings of the fans had no
sway as far as Manny Cussins was concerned. How humiliated I felt
when the announcement was made. At least Bill Shankly, a real
opponent, grudgingly acknowledged Leeds as the best team in the
country after we were beaten in all 3 competitions during a
ridiculously overcrowded schedule. Clough never ever said anything
approaching praise....An utter waste of time..wrong man, wrong
team, wrong time.
Chris Bettridge says: He should not have been appointed in the
first place given everything he said, but having appointed him he
should have been left to get on with it. If he had then maybe we
could have had the same sort of success as Forest, who were a joy
to watch!
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