Product Description

Any debate about who is the greatest British manager of all time must start with Brian Clough, who was able to take two small Midlands clubs, Derby County and Nottingham Forest, to their first-ever championships and then inspire Forest to two successive European Cups. Idiosyncratic and controversial, Clough was the people's choice for the role of England manager, but never got the job. In this account of his life, he reveals how he achieved such remarkable results and gives his outspoken views on the state of the modern game, the current crop of managers and much else besides. He also talks fully about his battle with alcohol and how he has found a new calm since he retired from management in 1993.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #399834 in Books
• Published on: 2003-07-28
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Whether it was winning league championships, landing back-to-back European Cups or riding the tidal wave of booze that washed him out of the game in 1993, there has never been any question of Brian Clough "quietly" getting on with things--and retirement hasn't changed that, as his boisterous new autobiography Cloughie--Walking on Water demonstrates.

The man who in the twilight of his successful and controversial managerial career habitually proffered a paternal cheek for embarrassed reporters to kiss goodbye, has clearly lost none of his distaste for any convention he hasn't started himself, or his delight in causing a stir. The book is crammed with frank opinions, fruitily expressed: from analysing today's game (Arsene Wenger's all-conquering Arsenal: "a bad-tempered, bad-mannered team" that "leave a nasty taste"); pithily settling ancient scores (on how he became Hartlepool manager: "Their chairman, a little bloke called Ernie Ord who turned out to be an absolute shit, offered me the job."); or taking the "broad view" of the game in general (coaches stepping up to be managers: "by and large these are men who tend to drown in their own self-delusion").

Certainly, much of the history in this book got pretty solid coverage in his original autobiography nearly 10 years previously, but an older, wiser Cloughie has had time to consider matters. On the whole he's still sure he was right all along, but now there are counter-melodies to the familiar trumpeting. Some bitterness, some regret, too, at cruelties he perpetrated, or allowed to stand; at his swan-song season, when, grip loosened by drink, he let his beloved Forest slip out of the Premiership; and mostly that he never orchestrated a reconciliation with deceased sidekick Peter Taylor, after a petty dispute had poisoned the most important relationship of his football life.

It's this flavour of lament in the blend of rheumy-eyed reflection and full-flowing rant, that reminds us they just don't make them like Brian any more. Yes, Cloughie sometimes loses its way--lurching from one subject to another, or going back over the same ground—-and the trademark boasting has long since become a rather boring self-parody, but the light still burns, and it's not hard to feel grateful for that. --Alex Hankin

Tim Rich, Independent
'Entirely absorbing'

Sun
'The football book of the year'

Customer Reviews

Making Amends
This is the second Biography by Brian Clough, and in this book I feel he was trying to make amends with Peter Taylor, as so much praise (and rightly so) was heaped on him. It made me think that Brain has had time to reflect and realise that life is too short to hold grudges. Albeit a good read and an honest account as usual of the way he has dealt with things, why they never made him England manager we will never know.

Simply the BEST
Cloughie was, is and, in my humble opinion (and probably his) the BEST footie manager EVER. Is this book he expands upon the theme's started in his first autobiography. Though, where his first book was very anacdotal and almost removed, this effort is a great deal more personal. Clough exposes himself as a flawed human being, something he would rarely admit to during his bravdo days as a football manager. And you'll love him more for it. A football genius and, as this book reveals, also a good man.

Wistful Reflections - Football Genius
In the 70's there were a group of highly skilful , free spirited footballers such as Bowles,Marsh,Worthington, Hudson , George etc. - Brian Clough is their managerial equivalent. Like these players Clough was anti-establishment , conceited and individualistic and these traits undoubtedly cost him the Big Jobs which his talents warranted , such as the England post which Cloughie laments in this book. "Walking on Water" is a somewhat disjointed mixture of history and opinion which doesnt read particularly smoothly, but there are many interesting insights into Cloughie's career and plenty of regrets about missed and lost opportunities (early end to playing career,walking out on Derby,the England job , falling out with Peter Taylor etc.).I remember Cloughie most for his remarkable achievements in the 1977-1980 period with Nottingham Forest. He built up a nothing club of journeymen players into European Champions within two years , replacing Liverpool in their prime as the top club domestically and internationally. The modern day equivalent would be a manager taking over at , say, Coventry City and taking the Title off Man United the season after getting promoted ! Cloughie was a miracle worker back then. After 1980 Forest never reached these heady heights again, but Clough's Forest always played good passing football , developed many talented international players and won several Cups.They also played football in a disciplined , honest way and didnt systematically harass referees (Arsenal under Wenger take note !). Cloughies Forest from 1988-1992 at times reached the heights of his great 70's teams - with his son Nigel playing an important role in this success.

As a person Brian Clough was in your face ,opinionated and called a spade a spade. His views always entertaining and informed. "Walking on Water" is not as exciting as one of his famous TV interviews, but there are plenty of memorable moments . One of my favourites was the pre-season team photo of Clough as a player at Sunderland with a pipe in his mouth for which he incurred the wrath of his manager. That sums up Brian Clough . Another favourite part was when he mocks the modern day self-appointed TV experts with all their earnest match and formation analysis and talk of "diagonal runs and spinning off the shoulder of the last defender". "What the hell they're on about is beyond me ! " says Clough.

Cloughie did it His Way, rubbed countless numbers of people up the wrong way and as a result had to make do with managing smaller clubs when his talents deserved a bigger stage. "Walking on Water" has a wistful air about it , a lot of "what ifs" and "if onlys" permeate it , but there are plenty of references to Cloughies remarkable successes which far outweigh his failures."Brian Clough's a Football Genius" the fans used to chant - this book will tell you why.