Soccer

Memorable quotes from Brian Clough – 20 years on from his death

We look back at some of his famous soundbites.

Brian Clough, pictured as Nottingham Forest manager in 1976
Brian Clough, pictured as Nottingham Forest manager in 1976 (PA Photos/PA)
By PA Sport Staff

Brian Clough was never short of a word or two to say during and after his colourful career.

Friday marks 20 years since his death from stomach cancer and here, the PA news agency looks back at some of his most memorable soundbites.

“If God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he’d have put grass up there.” – Clough liked the ball on the ground.

“I can’t even spell spaghetti never mind talk Italian. How could I tell an Italian to get the ball? He might grab mine.” – On English football’s foreign invasion.

Clough had his say on Arsenal’s influx of French players
Clough had his say on Arsenal’s influx of French players (Owen Humphreys/PA)

“I bet their dressing room will smell of garlic rather than liniment over the next few months.” – And Arsenal’s French contingent.

“I wouldn’t say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one.” – And to think they called him ‘Old Big Head’.

Talking of which – “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.”

He also passed comment when Sven-Goran Eriksson was named England boss in 2001
He also passed comment when Sven-Goran Eriksson was named England boss in 2001 (Rebecca Naden/PA)

“At last England have appointed a manager who speaks English better than the players.” – After Sven Goran Eriksson landed the England job.

“If he’d been English or Swedish, he’d have walked the England job.” – On Martin O’Neill’s credentials.

“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.” – And his own.

When a streaker interrupted a match – “The Derby players have seen more of his balls than the one they’re meant to be playing with.”

On managing Roy Keane – “I only ever hit Roy the once. He got up so I couldn’t have hit him very hard.”

Liking a drink – “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.”

Dealing with players – “We talk about it for 20 minutes and then we decide I was right.”

And chairmen – “If a chairman sacks the manager he initially appointed, he should go as well.” –

Discussing Sir Alex Ferguson not managing to win two consecutive 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!”

Clough was not a fan of David Seaman’s ponytail
Clough was not a fan of David Seaman’s ponytail (Rui Vieira/PA)

A take on goalkeepers’ hairstyles – “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.”

Remembering the late Peter Taylor – “I’ve missed him. He used to make me laugh. He was the best defuser of a situation I have ever known. I hope he’s all right.”

“I’d have cut his balls off.” – How Clough would have dealt with Eric Cantona after his kung-fu kick.

On being 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.”