Championship - Clough relishing Derby challenge

Eurosport - Wed, 07 Jan 13:56:00 2009

Nigel Clough has been appointed manager of Derby County, and is relishing the "tremendous challenge" of following in his father's footsteps.

2007 Nigel Clough - 0

Clough, 42, has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the Rams to become Paul Jewell's permanent replacement, leaving Blue Square Premier leaders Burton Albion after more than a decade in charge.

His late father, Brian, managed the Rams between 1967 and 1973 - winning the league title in 1972 - and Clough junior admits the club has always meant a lot to him.

Clough senior went on to manage their deadly rivals Nottingham Forest for 18 years, where he won the European Cup twice, and Nigel made more than 300 appearances for the Reds himself.

But he insists the chance to take over at Pride Park was one he could not turn down.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for me and one that I relish," he said.

"I know the club inside out. It has always had a special place in mine and my family's heart, and I know that this is one of the most exciting jobs in football.

"Derby County has everything - tremendous support, a first-class stadium, magnificent training facilities and an ambitious ownership group looking to grow the club even further.

"Also, we have a terrific squad of players already here and I can't wait to start working with them.

"This is going to be a tremendous challenge."

Clough had spent 10 years with Burton, taking them from the Southern League to the top of the non-league pyramid, and also led his team to an FA Cup third-round replay against Barclays Premier League giants Manchester United in 2006.

And Rams chairman Adam Pearson believes Clough is the right man to lead the club to a brighter future.

"Nigel is the ideal choice at this time," said Pearson. "It is going to be a great challenge for him and all of us at Derby County but one that we are all looking forward to.

"His track record at Burton is top-drawer and he has improved their standing every season he has been at the club, along with being an excellent man manager.

"It is that kind of progress we are looking for now - someone to grow with the club and lead us in the long term towards success.

"We have a great squad of players here and Nigel is capable of getting the very best out of them and playing a style of football the supporters want to see.

"Also, he understands this football club and what it means to the people of Derby better than anyone else in the game."

Clough takes over with the Rams - who were relegated last season - down in 18th place in the Coca-Cola Championship, just five points above the drop zone.

His first game in charge will be on Saturday when County travel to face Cardiff, with academy director David Lowe at the helm for tomorrow night's Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Manchester United after caretaker boss Chris Hutchings - who had been assistant to Jewell before his departure last month - left the club following Clough's appointment.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. DIDN'T RATE HIM AS A PLAYER. UNTRIED AT THIS LEVEL­ AS A MANAGER, BUT I FOR ONE WISH HIM LUCK.
    HIS DAD WAS­ A TRUE LEGEND. GREAT, GREAT MAN. BEST ENGLISH MANAGER­ EVER. BAR NONE.
    RESPECT TO MR. CLOUGH SENIOR. HOPE­ HE'S SMILING.

    From IAN S, on Wed 7 Jan 8:30AM

  2. Congatulations Cloughie nice and steady now,­ there's a good lad

    From bibaj62, on Wed 7 Jan 8:11AM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I disliked Brian Clough when he was at Derby, Brighton­ and Forest but as a life long Leeds Utd fan I hated him­ all the more when he was appointed as Leeds manager in­ 74. I am sad and embarassed to admit he was a Yorkshire­ man. Having said that. I do believe Nigel Clough is­ vastly different to his old man in his attitude. He has­ quietly learned his craft over the last ten years and­ as statistics show has improved Burton year on year.­ Despite my earlier comments about Clough senior I wish­ Nigel Clough the very best at Derby and hope the board­ look at the two most succesful clubs in the English­ league and see that those two managers were given time­ and have brought results that short sighted boards of­ directors can only dream about!

    From Simon F, on Wed 7 Jan 8:01AM

  4. We should not be comparing Nigel to Brian. However, if­ he is half as good, he will be fantastic. All the best­ from a Leicester supporter in Canada.

    From michael_fernandez_80, on Wed 7 Jan 7:59AM

  5. Cloughie senior was a legend in football and should­ have been an England manager but was too honest for the­ FA. If the players in Derby play for his son like they­ did for Brian he would be a proud man looking down.­ Good luck to you and I hope it is a springboard to­ greater things for you in the long run. He is just what­ we need in football- and he is British

    From taff, on Wed 7 Jan 7:14AM

  6. Well I for one am gutted he's gone to Derby and not­ Forest, but then he's just like his great Dad and­ will one day end up across the Trent and lead Forest to­ great times.... Good luck Nigel, you were a great­ servent to Forest, do us proud at Derby, then come­ home.....

    From Steve, on Wed 7 Jan 6:41AM

  7. Good luck Nigel. Hope to see you one day as our­ manager. Mickey K (u reds)

    From michael.kingsbury, on Wed 7 Jan 6:38AM

  8. great appointment cloughie will get the backing of the­ fans.....to all those florist fans he is a rams fan and­ always has been....altogether now "always poo on­ the red side of the trent..."

    From MT R, on Wed 7 Jan 6:00AM

  9. Good Luck Nigel....even though I would have prefered­ you to be at Forest!

    From Tim R, on Wed 7 Jan 5:47AM

  10. GOOD APPOINTMENT (10YRS) AT BURTON. LOYAL AND SERVED­ HIS "APPRENTICESHIP" iF GIVEN TIME WILL DO­ WELL FOR THE CLUB, AND SPEND 10YRS WITH THEM. KNOWS ALL­ ABOUT THE JOB.

    ................WELL DONE YOUNG MAN, AS­ YOUR DAD WOULD SAY.............................

    From David H, on Wed 7 Jan 5:34AM

  11. good luck nigel with derby and dont forget the next­ step up for you will be forest

    From cookie.email, on Wed 7 Jan 5:22AM
  12. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    DERBY COULD DO BETTER THAN THIS GUY !

    From I TYSON, on Wed 7 Jan 4:37AM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    i'll give him a year........tops!

    From carl_the_plasterer, on Wed 7 Jan 4:24AM

  14. He's bein doin a good job at Burton Albion but iss­ is 3 leagues higher.

    From justinbowie1, on Wed 7 Jan 4:12AM

  15. Its a shame he's left burton just as they are on­ course to be promoted but derby is just too good to­ turn down. The good thing about derby is that they have­ a good board that gives managers the time that they­ need, We need more top quality english managers in the­ top 2 divisions of football. But the problem is when­ they get there foot into a good job they are sacked­ shortly after like paul ince for example and tony adams­ will prob follow by the end of the season. How can you­ be a good manager if your board don't have faith in­ you?

    good luck cloughy :)

    From alankshort, on Wed 7 Jan 4:12AM

  16. hope he does very well!!! but if he dosent i just­ hope dcfc DONT SACK HIM
    HE NEEDS TIME TO SORT IT OUT.­ AT LEAST 3 YEARS

    From scott b, on Wed 7 Jan 4:04AM

  17. Derby's gain unfortunately is Burton's loss.
    He­ will certainly manage in a quietly efficient manner­ quite UNLIKE his father but probably equally­ effective.
    I wish him all the best.

    From Alun R, on Wed 7 Jan 3:51AM

  18. just make sure you give him a proper chance derby and­ dont wreck his career best young manager for years. lfc­ fan

    From jase, on Wed 7 Jan 3:49AM

  19. Its a great appointment for us. i'm pleased that­ the board have had the vision to appoint such an­ exciting young manager. lets all get behind cloughie­ and give him the time to do the job. bring on the red­ rags! UP THE RAMS!!

    From melanie k, on Wed 7 Jan 3:35AM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Riding on his Dad's reputation I fear right now.

    From slivatree, on Wed 7 Jan 3:24AM
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