Throughout the 1970’s and early 1980’s English clubs enjoyed unprecedented success in European club competitions. We even had a double world player of the year in Kevin Keegan. However throughout this time England failed to qualify for two world cups and two European Championships. Why?
There were many reasons offered including player fitness and bad luck however the biggest discussion point was the FA’s rejection of the most successful English coach of the time after interviews in both 1977 and 1982.
Clough had won the European Cup twice by the time of his second interview and was considered a master of man management. He was able to motivate players to perform at their best and was known for his blunt and often controvertial statements. It was this maverick style that spooked the FA into a more conservative appointment.
The question remains - has Clough been given the job what might that great team have achieved with him at the helm?
“I’m sure the England selectors thought if they took me on and gave me the job, I’d want to run the show. They were shrewd, because that’s exactly what I would have done”