When Leeds United beat Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough to the signing of Gary McAllister in 1990

When Leeds United beat Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough to the signing of Gary McAllister in 1990
Ahead of Championship leaders Leeds‘ visit to Nottingham Forest on New Year’s day, talkSPORT.com looks at the time United signed Leicester’s Gary McAliister, getting one over on former manager Brian Clough in the process.Leeds?! he said, then the phone went down quite abruptly.”And that was how McAllister’s conversation with Forest’s legendary manager Brian Clough ended when he informed him of his decision to join Howard Wilkinson’s Leeds instead in 1990.3

McAllister left Leicester for Leeds in 1990

According to the Yorkshire Evening Post, Leeds initial 850,000 bid was rejected by the Foxes, which had initially put Forest in the driving seat for the player’s signature, but McAllister didn’t want to go to the City Ground apparently he wasn’t too impressed with Forest’s supremo.The story goes that Cloughie, who spent 44 days as Leeds manager in 1974, was close to signing the midfielder, but after turning up late to a meeting with the player, spotted his cowboy boots and asked a series of pointed questions about his private life.3

Clough spent 44 days in charge of Leeds in 1974, but then led Forest to two European Cups in his next job

“It was bad timing. Looking back, Id have loved to play under Clough in his pomp, but I had options and just felt Leeds were a better fit. Brian wasnt impressed when I said I was going to Leeds,” McAllister told Four Four Two about his decision to move to Elland Road.A tribunal eventually set his transfer fee at 1m and Leeds were soon in the ascendancy, with McAllister signing up for their first season back in the top division after eight years away.And just to make sure he got his man, United chairman Bill Fotherby actually tracked McAllister down to a golf course in Leicester to convince him to sign on the spot.They were making a real statement of intent.Replacing Vinnie Jones with Gary Macca, the club now had genuine class in the middle along withGordon Strachan and academy products Gary Speed and David Batty. It’s a quartet that has been greatly celebrated in the years since. Theirs was “a rare chemistry,” according to manager Howard Wilkinson.After all, McAllister is a man Steven Gerrard said he learned from. I knew there was a player there that I could learn off both on and off the pitch, the Liverpool legend said about the man who now his assistant at Rangers.Promoted as winners of Division Two, McAllister got to work straight away as Leeds finished fourth in his first season and helped Lee Chapman score a career-best 21 league goals. Wilkinson was building a team capable of becoming champions of England and they realised the dream in 1992; the final season before the Premier League’s formation.3

Leeds were the old First Division’s last champions – McAllister is on the bottom row, third from right

The decision to choose Wilkinson over Cloughie was vindicated. I came to Leeds with the expectation of winning things, he said after the league triumph. And to win the league championship in my second season – Im ahead of schedule.And for a man who later won the treble – UEFA Cup, League Cup and FA Cup – with Liverpool in 2001, his one and only league winners medal takes pride of place on his mantle.If you speak to the greatest players the guys with more medals than they can count theyll all tell you that championships count for most, McAllister said.You can get lucky in cups. Four or five good draws and youre well down the line. But a full season, against 21 clubs as it was back then, is the true test or skill sets, of endurance and consistency. The treble at Liverpool might never be repeated but would Liverpool swap that for the title? I think maybe they would.“It has to be said that to break the hold of the big boys back then, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, was amazing. You cant pretend that Howard did it with a big budget. Nottingham Forest v Leeds is live on talkSPORT 2 at 3pm on Tuesday 1 January.

---

So Brendan Rodgers is back in the Premier League after being appointed Leicester's new manager on Tuesday. A matter of hours later the former Swansea, Liverpool and Celtic boss saw his new club register a 2-1 win over Brighton at the King Power Stadium, prompting many to label their first win since New Year's Day […]
What this former Newcastle boss thinks Leicester City should

---

Tony Cascarino felt Mauricio Pochettino got his decisions wrong for the Champions League final and 'managed like a rookie manager'. Tottenham were beaten 2-0 by Liverpool at the Wanda
Mauricio Pochettino was like a 'rookie manager' in Tottenham

---

Pep Guardiola has rubbished suggestions by Jurgen Klopp that Manchester City have "no sign of weakness". Liverpool boss Klopp also claimed that "only City can stop City" when asked about the Premier League title race this week. Liverpool and City are viewed as the favourites to win the Premier League this season
Guardiola dismisses Klopp's claim that Man City have no

---

Next Celtic manager: Jose Mourinho SECOND favourite to become

---

Mar 26, 2019 · The Montenegro manager, Ljubisa Tumbakovic, said he had not heard the monkey chants and there was no reason for him to comment. It is not the first time England have experienced problems in
England stars' families were in crowd to hear as Montenegro

---

City boss Pep Guardiola says every trip to Goodison Park is a tough test. READ: Everton v City: Injury news. The Blues' boss suffered his heaviest defeat as manager to the Toffees during his first season as City manager and he expects another difficult trip this season. "Goodison Park is always a tough game for us," said Pep.

---

Barcelona hold a sizeable advantage as they travel to Anfield looking for a first two-legged victory against Liverpool, which would earn a first UEFA Champions League final appearance since 2015.
Barcelona vs Liverpool LIVE - Champions League semi-final

---

Leicester vs Arsenal: Unai Emery's Best Available Gunners Lineup Arsenal proceed with their mission for a spot in the Premier League's main four when they travel to the King Power Stadium to take on Leicester City.
Match Thread: Leicester City vs Arsenal [English Premier

---

Real Madrid are ready to offer Manchester United three players as bait as they bid to sign Paul Pogba during the summer transfer window, according to reports. Zinedine Zidane, who returned to the Bernabeu earlier in the year, has identified Pogba as one of his priority signings and is putting pressure on Real to secure his signature.
Manchester United Transfer News: Real Madrid set to offer

---

Manchester United have activated the one-year option on David de Gea's contract as they look to avoid any uncertainty over his future heading into the January transfer window. Goalkeeper De Gea, 28, moved to Old Trafford from Atletico Madrid in 2011 and has been an outstanding success in the Premuer League.
David de Gea: Man Utd activate one-year extension on keeper's

---

Here's all you need to know for Arsenal v Chelsea in the FA Cup, including the kick-off and television details, the latest odds, statistics, roads to Wembley and memorable meetings. Arsenal and

---

Manuel Pellegrini has handed Samir Nasri a first Premier League start at West Ham, against his old club as Arsenal visit London Stadium. season that Mesut Ozil has been left out for tactical
Arnautovic, Nasri start for West Ham; no Mesut Ozil

---