Brian Clough, one of the most legendary soccer coaches of all time, could have trained in the United States.
Over the past few months, mentions of Brian Clough have increased as Nottingham Forest play in the Premier League for the first time in 23 years.
Brian Clough’s legacy as one of the best
Later, he reminds us of the honors Clough achieved as a manager. For example, he includes two European Cup trophies (the predecessor of the UEFA Champions League). Similarly, he has the distinction of being one of only four managers to have won the English league while managing two different clubs. Overall though, the fact that Clough has won many of the honors from provincial clubs like Nottingham Forest and Derby County is what separates him from the pack.
Incredibly though, Cloughie could have gone to train in the United States.
Legends of world soccer in the United States
In the late 1970s, with the rise in popularity of the NASL, many of the world’s best players played in the United States. For example, Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Carlos Alberto, Johan Cruyff, Eusebio, Gerd Müller, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Moore and Giorgio Chinaglia were just some of the stars.
Additionally, the NASL was an ideal destination for European soccer players to play during the summer months. English footballers, in particular, played in the United States in the summer and then returned to their clubs in time for the new season. The list of these players is too long to mention, but consider the names of some of these stars who played in the United States: Alan Ball, Peter Beardsley and Trevor Francis.
Francis, in particular, is where the story begins with Clough’s interest in the United States.
In April 1978, when Francis was loaned out to the Detroit Express from Birmingham City, Clough was just weeks away from leading his Nottingham Forest team to the heights of English football, winning the 1977-78 English Premier League.
Less than twelve months later, Francis and Clough made history.
record transfer
In February 1979, Trevor Francis made history as Britain’s first million-pound player, joining Nottingham Forest from Birmingham. Just a few months later, Francis etched his name into Forest folklore when he scored the winning goal to win the European Cup final. That was on May 30, 1979. Less than three weeks later, Francis was playing for the Detroit Express again during his “summer break.”
Wanting to protest his £1,000,000 asset, Clough wanted to put an end to Francis playing in the United States, where he risked injury and fatigue.
“Eventually, if soccer takes off the way we hope it will take off in America, then not just the players, but also the managers, the coaches and everyone will end up in the American league,” Clough said in a television interview (see video above).
“I would go to the United States overnight if they offered me a contract length that suits me, of course.”
Unfortunately for soccer fans, Clough was never offered the opportunity to train in the United States. At the same time, the sport of club football never reached the heights that Clough envisioned. After the collapse of the NASL, minor leagues continued to exist throughout the United States. And even with the creation of Major League Soccer, club soccer has never quite matched the heyday of the NASL’s glory days in the United States in the late 1970s.
Clough ultimately continued to manage Nottingham Forest until 1993, when he retired from managing football. In hindsight, Clough leaving us his legacy at Forest was the manager’s best choice. But oh, what a pleasure it would have been to see him in the States.
Photo Credit: Imago
