England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce claims played under Clough for eight years at Nottingham Forest before 'Old Big Head' retired in May 1993 after over 18 years in charge at the City Ground.
Former Toon Star Influenced By Clough!
Clough - the most successful manager in Forest's history after leading the club to the league title in 1978 before recording back-to-back European Cup triumphs in the two years that followed - was renowned for his no-nonsense style.
Pearce: "He has been the biggest influence on my career. I have fond memories of him and I am quite close to his son (Nigel) now.
"I spent eight years working for him, he was a strong character and you could learn a great deal from him. You have got to admire anyone that had the success that he got.
"Little bits of information I picked up from him I pass in to the players, but I don't pass it on in the name of Brian Clough.
"He is a manager with a fantastic CV but it is the managers - and the players - in the here and now that are benefiting from him.
"You've only got to bump into people that have worked for him over his career to see that some of Brian Clough has rubbed off on all of them.
"I think you can see it if you look at the likes of Martin O'Neil and Brian Laws and maybe even Roy Keane - they have nothing but praise for the man and they have a lot of respect for him."