Every Leeds United supporter is familiar with the infamous 44-day reign of Brian Clough at Elland Road—a short tenure that left a lasting impact on the club.
Clough’s time at Leeds is well-documented, including in the film adaptation where Michael Sheen portrayed him delivering the now-famous line to Billy Bremner, Peter Lorimer, Johnny Giles, and Jack Charlton: “You’ve won them all by cheating.” This bold accusation against the club’s legendary players was one of many factors that contributed to his disastrous stint as manager.
Before arriving at Leeds, Clough had already built a fierce rivalry with Don Revie, having led Derby County to success. His managerial brilliance later shone at Nottingham Forest, where he cemented himself as one of the greatest coaches in English football history.
Clough’s Attempt to Sell a Leeds United Hero
In 1980, Peter Taylor, Clough’s long-time assistant, released a book titled With Clough By Taylor, which was re-published in 2019. On page 127, Taylor revealed that Clough attempted to sell Leeds United’s beloved left-back, Terry Cooper, to Nottingham Forest in 1974.
At the time, Cooper had been a key player for Leeds for 14 years, making over 200 league appearances and representing England in the 1970 World Cup. He was not only a talented, attacking full-back but also a fan favorite and highly respected within the club.
Taylor wrote: “He tried to sell Terry Cooper. An outsider like Brian couldn’t have known of Cooper’s special place in the affections of Leeds United. The terraces idolised him, and he was extraordinarily popular inside the club. There was general outrage when Brian arranged to sell him to Forest for £75,000.”
The Leeds United board quickly intervened to block the sale. Then-chairman Manny Cussins demanded more information and called Clough in for questioning. Ultimately, the deal was scrapped, and Cooper remained at the club.
Cooper’s Departure and Clough’s Short-Lived Tenure
Although Cooper was not sold to Forest, he left Leeds the following year, moving to Middlesbrough, where he played over 100 games in three seasons. He went on to have a long playing career with Bristol Rovers, Bristol City, and Doncaster Rovers before transitioning into management with Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, Birmingham City, and Exeter City.
Clough’s ill-fated tenure at Leeds ended after just 44 days, during which the team won only one of eight matches. His attempt to sell a club legend like Cooper did little to endear him to the Leeds faithful, and his tenure remains one of the most controversial in football history.