Nottingham Forest: 10 of the best Brian Clough quotes that’ll leave you in stitches

It’s fair to say that they don’t make ‘em like Brian Clough anymore. 

Straight-talking Clough took over Nottingham Forest in 1975 and the 18 years that followed exceeded anyone’s wildest dreams. 

His side won the First Division Championship in 1978, followed by two consecutive European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980. 

Clough’s achievements at Forest are considered some of the greatest managerial feats in the English Football League's history to date. 

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But it wasn’t just Clough’s achievements on the pitch that set him apart from his peers. 

Clough’s no-nonsense style with players, fans, and the media only enhanced his aura as one of English football’s greatest-ever managers. 

Naturally quick-witted, Clough was always good value during interviews and came out with some sensational one-liners over his career. 

We’ve taken a look back at 10 of Clough’s best quotes, several of which will have you in stitches. 

• “If God had wanted us to play football in the clouds, he'd have put grass up there”

• “Rome wasn't built in a day. But I wasn't on that particular job.”

• “I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one”

• “I only ever hit Roy the once. He got up so I couldn't have hit him very hard”

• “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”

• “The River Trent is lovely, I know because I have walked on it for 18 years”

• “When I go, God's going to have to give up his favourite chair”

• “Good managers make good sides. There’s no such thing as a side making a manager”

• “Players lose you games, not tactics. There's so much crap talked about tactics by people who barely know how to win at dominoes”

• “We talk about it for 20 minutes and then we decide I was right”