Brian Clough told Nottingham Forest legend he’s in the wrong position, 18 months later he was an England player

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Brian Clough is rightly revered as one of England’s greatest ever managers.

Enjoying success at Derby, Clough would later oversee the most illustrious period in Nottingham Forest’s history.

As well as Clough’s prowess in the transfer market, the Englishman’s ability to spot talent and his man management were crucial behind the club’s success.

This has once again come to light following former Forest manager (and player under Clough) Martin O’Neill’s comments.

Brian Clough transformed Tony Woodcock into a Nottingham Forest star and an England international

Speaking on talkSPORT alongside Sam Matterface and Alex Crook, O’Neill shared a story of how Brian Clough changed former Nottingham Forest striker Tony Woodcock’s understanding of his position.

O’Neill began: “The story of young Tony Woodcock, who turned out to be a terrific footballer. Tony was trying to break into Nottingham Forest’s team under their great manager, Brian Clough.

“Clough wasn’t having him to begin with; he wasn’t sure about Tony at all.

“And then one day, Clough went to him and said: ‘[The Forest players] tell me you can play, son. What position do you play?’

“Woodcock says, ‘I play off the centre forward.’ Clough says, ‘There’s no such position as off the centre-forward. You’re either a centre forward or you’re not.’

“Woodcock says, ‘Okay, I’ll play centre forward.’ And Tony never looked back. He was brilliant.”

Indeed, Woodcock would go on to score 46 goals in 136 appearances for the Reds, winning the First Division and the League Cup in the 1977-78 season, and the League Cup and European Cup in 1978-79.

Such was his ability, Woodcock would be named Nottingham Forest’s player of the year in 1977 and the PFA Young Player of the Year for the 1977-78 campaign.

This led to the striker earning 42 England caps, something O’Neill put down to Clough’s initial advice.

In finishing his piece on talkSPORT, the Northern Irishman made clear that “within 18 months of getting the [centre-forward starting spot], he was an England player.”

Other pearls of wisdom from Brian Clough

Part of Clough’s brilliance as a manager was his ability to simplify the game.

On emphasising the need to get the ball on the ground and play, for instance, Clough said (as confirmed by Sky Sports): “If God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he’d have put grass up there.”

His methods were also excellent when it came to motivating his players.

Forest’s former centre-half and European Cup winner Kenny Burns is well aware of this.

As explained in John Scally’s book, A Load of Balls: Football’s Funny Side, ‘Clough warned Burns many times about passing the ball square across the front of his own goal.

‘During the second half of a big match, he again defied Clough’s orders and repeated the feat.

‘The final whistle blew and Burns walked back to the dressing-room to find an envelope waiting for him at his changing place. It was a typed letter on official club paper – he had been fined by the manager for disobeying orders.’

It is stories such as these that keep Clough’s legacy alive, and will continue to do so for as long as football continues to be played in England.