The Damned United

This tells the story of the best manager England never had, Brian Clough and his complicated relationship with Peter Taylor. The main subject of the film is Clough’s short tenure as the manager of Leeds United, who some thought at the time should have won the European Cup under Don Revie as they were at times the best team in England. Clough’s appointment came because of Revie’s elevation to the post of England manager. Clough believed Leeds to be cheats and made his feelings clear to the Leeds players when he arrived, saying that whatever they had won in the past was worthless. Not the best way to endear yourself and inevitably things went downhill from there. Happily, Clough did win Europe’s top club prize, even better it was not with Leeds and he remains the only British manager to do this in successive seasons. November 2009