Even before he stepped foot in Nottingham Forest Brian Clough’s legacy was already being cemented; A phenomenal strike rate as a forward scoring 251 goals in 274 league games for Middlesbrough and Sunderland before retiring through injury aged just 29. Then the football leagues youngest manager (at that time) when he took over the reigns at Hartlepools United (as it was called then). Next taking Derby County from struggling in the second tier to the English Champions in a mere four seasons, and then having a 44 day spell in charge of Leeds United.
However it was 18 years in charge of Notts Forest that ‘Cloughy’ is most remembered for. He joined there when the club was in mid-table in the old Second Division, and in his second full second got them promoted to the Division One (now the Premier League).
In the very next season the club win the League Cup and amazingly won the League Title. Clough then paid a world record £1 million for a football as Trevor Francis joined the club. The club manage to retain the League Cup, but only finished second in the league, however they saved there greatest achievement for Europe where the club won the European Cup (now the Champions League) 1-0 against Malmo with the only goal being scored by Francis.
As if that was not enough, a year later, Clough guided Forest to a second successive European Cup success, this time beating Hamburger 1–0, and a third successive League Cup final, though they were defeated this time.
Forest under Clough then went 42 league games unbeaten, and whilst the trophies and Wembley finals continued over the years by the time he retired in 1993 the club were heading out of England’s top flight.
This however did nothing to tarnish the reputation of the man who had already been given legendary status at the City ground.
Now to celebrate 150 years since Nottingham Forest was founded Universal Pictures have unveiled the trailer for its forthcoming docu-film I Believe In Miracles. Miracles traces the story of the enigmatic manager, and how he steered his team to the greatest honour available to a European club, in both 1979 and 1980. The amazing fete is retold through archive footage, interviews with ex-players and those closest to the late, great manager.
Releasing on Tuesday October 13th at an advanced screening, more information about the film can be found here, and for the trailer please see below.