1974 Brian Clough: 44 Days of Turmoil
Runners Up: Charity Shield (1974/75)
Don Revie had recommended Johnny Giles as his replacement; however, the Leeds board instead appointed one of England's most successful and outspoken managers, Brian Clough, who had guided Derby County to the league championship in 1972. However, Clough was also an outspoken critic of Revie and his team, branding them "dirty" and "cheats" for their poor disciplinary record and perceived lack of sportsmanship, and had once called for them to be demoted to the Second Division. In addition, his passionate, laissez faire management style was in complete contrast to Revie's.
At Clough's first team talk, he reportedly told the Leeds players to throw their medals away, as they had only won them by cheating. He also antagonised several senior players, including captain Billy Bremner and Norman Hunter, and famously told the injury-prone Eddie Gray that if he had been a horse, he would have been shot years ago. Clough purchased players who he felt could turn the dressing room such as John O'Hare and John McGovern from Derby County, and thrust them into the team ahead of the established players who were lukewarm to his appointment. Clough's first match in charge was the 1974 FA Charity Shield against Liverpool at Wembley Stadium; Leeds lost on penalties after a 1-1 draw, but the match is better remembered for Bremner and Kevin Keegan being sent off for fighting. The FA imposed an 11 match ban on Bremner. Deprived of his captain, Clough's tenure was further hampered by injuries to numerous first team players. Leeds' start to the league campaign was poor, with just one victory and two draws from his first six games, leaving the club 19th in the First Division.
Unnerved by the poor results and rumblings of player unrest, the directors called an extraordinary meeting to gauge the players' feelings about the new manager and his methods. Some players, such as Johnny Giles, recognised the need to rebuild Revie's ageing side, and thought Clough should be given more time. Others - notably Paul Madeley - felt differently, and said so during the meeting. Shortly after, an emergency board meeting was held, and in September 1974 Clough was sacked after only 44 days in charge. Clough went on to greater things with Nottingham Forest; of his signings for Leeds, only Duncan McKenzie flourished at the club.
Read more about this topic: History Of Leeds United A.F.C.
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