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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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