Clough v Ferguson
The Big Question
Who was the greater manager: Brian Clough or Sir Alex Ferguson? And among their footballing sons, who edges it as player and as gaffer: Nigel Clough or Darren Ferguson?
As editor, I’ll nail our colours early: for all of Sir Alex’s avalanche of silver, Clough’s arrogance-with-genius gives him the edge. Here’s the case—respectful, honest, and evidence-based.
Part I — Old Big ’Ead vs The Knight
Trophy ledger (headline view)
Sir Alex Ferguson: 38 major trophies with Manchester United (13 league titles, 5 FA Cups, 2 Champions Leagues), 49 across his whole career including Aberdeen and St Mirren.
Brian Clough: English champion with two different clubs (Derby 1972; Forest 1978), plus back-to-back European Cups (1979, 1980) with Nottingham Forest. Four League Cups with Forest among other honours.
Context matters
Ferguson built a dynasty at one of the world’s richest clubs and sustained it for 26 years—a feat of culture-building, talent regeneration, and ruthless standards that few in sport can touch. Even neutral observers call him the most successful manager in English football history.
Clough, by contrast, took provincial clubs with modest histories to the summit. Derby were second-tier when he arrived; he won them the First Division. Forest were promoted and won the league at the first attempt, then conquered Europe twice—arguably the greatest alchemy English club management has seen. The man nicknamed “Old Big ’Ead” backed up the bravado with miracles.
Editor’s verdict
Edge: Brian Clough. Ferguson’s volume is unmatched; Clough’s degree of difficulty is unparalleled. Taking Forest from promotion to champions to double European champions is a lightning-in-a-bottle legacy that, pound-for-pound, eclipses even United’s empire years.
Part II — Nigel Clough v Darren Ferguson: the players
Nigel Clough (player)
Nottingham Forest: 400+ competitive appearances across spells; 131 goals, second-highest scorer in Forest history; two League Cups (1989, 1990); 14 England caps. A smooth, intelligent forward/10 who saw pictures early.
Darren Ferguson (player)
Manchester United youth graduate; part of 1992–93 title squad; best years as an excellent Wrexham midfielder/captain (310 apps, 51 goals), winning promotion and the Football League Trophy.
Editor’s verdict: with respect to Darren’s fine Wrexham career, Nigel Clough was one of the most underrated English players of his generation—craft, economy, and end product at top-flight level under the fiercest managerial scrutiny imaginable. Edge: Nigel.
Part III — Darren Ferguson v Nigel Clough: the managers
Darren Ferguson — promotions machine at Posh
Peterborough United: promotions in 2007–08 (L2→L1), 2008–09 (L1→Champ), 2011 (L1 play-offs), 2020–21 (automatic); EFL Trophy wins in 2014, 2024, 2025. Stint at Preston ended early; also promoted Doncaster (2016–17). Style: front-foot, development-friendly, high churn managed adeptly.
Benchmarks: the 2011 play-off final (3–0 v Huddersfield) and the dramatic 2021 promotion sealed by Jonson Clarke-Harris’ 96′ penalty.
Nigel Clough — builder and stabiliser in tough rooms
Burton Albion: took the Brewers from non-league to the Football League (left 2009 with a 13-point lead; Burton completed promotion), then in a second spell promoted to the Championship for the first time (2016) and kept them up a year.
Cup nous: Led Sheffield United to FA Cup and League Cup semi-finals in 2013–15 despite League One status.
Mansfield Town: engineered promotion to League One in April 2024; Manager of the Season in League Two.
Like-for-like read
Upward mobility: Darren’s tally of lower-league promotions is outstanding—serial elevator operator with Posh (and one with Donny).
Program-building: Nigel’s superpower is institutional uplift—turning Burton into an EFL mainstay and briefly a Championship club, plus deep cup runs with a budget side, and a smart rebuild at Mansfield.
Managerial verdict: Draw, shaded situationally. If you want repeated quick ascents and trophy days at Wembley, Darren is your man. If you want to re-platform a club, change its ceiling, and punch above budget, Nigel’s body of work is formidable.
Authorities & angles
On Ferguson’s greatness: Long regarded as the most successful manager in English football, with 49 career trophies and a transformative United dynasty.
On Clough’s genius (and ‘arrogance’): UEFA’s profile encapsulates his “Old Big ’Ead” persona backed by the ultimate receipts—two European Cups with Forest. National Football Museum dubs him “the greatest manager England never had.”
Final Whistle
Greatest manager? With deepest respect to Sir Alex’s peerless volume, Brian Clough takes it here for the sheer improbability and purity of his achievements. Edge: Clough.
Better player—Nigel or Darren? Nigel Clough, comfortably.
Better manager—Nigel or Darren? Different aces: Darren for relentless promotions and hardware days; Nigel for lifting whole clubs and sustaining level-ups. Take your pick by need.
Respect to all four: two titanic fathers who shaped the game, and two sons who’ve carved serious careers—each true to the family business, each in his own way