There are obvious parallels to be drawn between Ange Postecoglou’s disastrous reign at Nottingham Forest and Brian Clough’s time at Leeds United.
With both Leeds United and Nottingham Forest expected to be locked in a relegation battle this season, Postecoglou’s dismissal could have a significant impact on the rest of the Premier League season.
However, on this day, Leeds were beginning to climb away from the wreckage of their own disastrous managerial appointment, after the golden era under Don Revie came to an end, and Leeds decided to appoint Brian Clough as head coach.
Clough narrowly outlasted the Australian, surviving 44 days at Elland Road to Postecoglou’s 39 days in Nottingham, but the similarities are there for all to see.
Leeds began to show signs that the dark days under Clough were behind them on this day in 1974, as a 2-0 win over Wolves helped them move away from the relegation zone in the First Division.
Allan Clarke scored in a 2-0 Leeds United win
Brian Clough left his position at Leeds on the 12th September 1974, leaving Revie’s all-conquering side in dire straits.
On the day Clough departed, Leeds were 19th in the First Division table with just one win from six games and looked a shadow of the side that won the title under Revie for the final time.
Leeds turned to the then-Bolton manager, Jimmy Armfield, to replace Clough. He took charge of the Whites for the win over Arsenal on the 5th October, but did not select the team. Armfield then oversaw a draw with Ipswich and a defeat to Birmingham before his side clicked into gear.
Goals from Leeds legend Allan Clarke and Duncan McKenzie, who was signed for £250,000 by Clough, steered Armfield to his first win in earnest as Leeds manager.
Speaking in an interview with the Lancashire Telegraph on the verge of the game, Armfield explained Leeds’ slow start under his leadership, stating: “We have lost Eddie Gray, injury, Mick Jones has not played yet this season, and, of course, Billy Bremner has played twice.
“I took over at a turbulent time with a quarter of the season gone and the team sharing the bottom-of-the-table spot. My goal is a middle-of-the-table position and the hope of doing something in the cups.”
Jimmy Armfield delivered on his promise with European Cup run
Forest can look to Leeds’ appointment of Armfield for some inspiration, after he helped steady the ship after a disastrous managerial hire.
Former manager Nuno Espirito Santo led Forest to the Europa League, and the competition could provide their new manager with a path to success.
Armfield did just that with Leeds, guiding the Whites to a solid but unspectacular ninth-place finish in the league.
The real fireworks for Leeds came in the 1974/75 European Cup, as Armfield’s side embarked on a dramatic run to the final, where the Whites fell to a deeply controversial defeat against Bayern Munich.
In his interview with the Lancashire Telegraph, Armfield denied that he was overawed by the task of replacing Revie. By steering Leeds to the European Cup final, he showed that it is possible to achieve success when taking a team over after a disastrous reign, such as Clough and Postecoglou’s.
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