Former Manchester United and Aston Villa boss Ron Atkinson has paid tribute to Nottingham Forest legend Brian Clough.
Big Ron was speaking with the Express & Star.
"I used to really rate George Graham at Arsenal, Lawrie McMenemy was still working wonders with Southampton and John Lyall was doing a good job in charge of West Ham.
"Liverpool were Liverpool, whoever was in charge, and Sir Bobby Robson was with England. The one thing we had was great camaraderie.
"And then there was Brian Clough. People ask me who was the best you competed against and it had to be him.
"But he could be an awkward so and so, which won't surprise anyone. Years later, I interviewed him for a television programme.
"He had a major problem with drink, no two ways about it, but I got the call from the producer to go down and do it.
"Now 'Cloughie,' in his pomp, was brilliant but I didn't know what to expect. I walked in and the first thing he said was 'oi, big head, you've got an hour.' He hadn't changed a bit!
"Hours later, we were talking about how he would handle modern-day players. He told me the first thing he would say was 'what do you want seven cars for? You can only drive one.'
"That was 'Cloughie' all over. He ruled with an iron rod and that would be no different today."
