Arsène Wenger, best remembered for his time managing Arsenal, has encountered some of the greatest footballers of all time during his career. However, in 2018, the Frenchman revealed which underrated Nottingham Forest icon he regards as 'one of the greatest in English football'.
The debate regarding football's best player is a discourse that has been ongoing for decades and is yet to, and most likely will never, find a definitive answer. Names such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo pop up more often than not, but with football being a subjective sport, the answer lies in the eyes of the beholder.
Although English footballers may not find themselves in these sorts of conversations, the English leagues, most notably the Premier League, have played host to a litany of fantastic talent over the years. From foreign world-beaters to homegrown icons, it is the latter that Arsène Wenger spoke about in 2018.
In recent times, the likes of Harry Kane, Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka have established themselves as world-class talents, with the trait of thriving English players playing in the English leagues dating back for years. With fans often thinking in the present, Wenger reminisced on Brian Clough, a star from the '50s and '60s.
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Arsène Wenger Waxed Lyrical About Brian Clough
The Frenchman held him in high regard in 2018
When reflecting on the greats of English football, any football fan would have Arsène Wenger come to mind. One of the greatest managers to stand on the sidelines of Premier League pitches, the Frenchman's stint at Arsenal saw him become the longest-serving Premier League manager of all time.
A figure who played a key role in Arsenal becoming who they are today, Wenger normalised the use of foreign players. Becoming the first manager to field an all-foreign matchday squad in 2005, Wenger's knowledge didn't just lie overseas. Speaking in 2018, the three-time Premier League winner named Brian Clough as one of England's greatest talents.
"I believe that above his achievements is his personality. He's a special person in English football ... it's his personality that has left a huge imprint on the history of the game. So he will be remembered as one of the greatest ever, among three or four greatest in English football."
The Englishman was an iconic player and manager
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Brian Clough Domestic Career Stats
Team
Middlesbrough
Sunderland
Brian Clough is a name that football fans may have heard of, but the success and legacy that comes with that name may not be as known. A striker, Clough ended his domestic career with a near-perfect game-to-goal ratio, playing 274 games and scoring 251 goals across spells at Middlesbrough and Sunderland.
Having made a name for himself in the North East, Clough became a manager and found his first true success on the sidelines at Derby County, where he won the Second and First Divisions. Unsuccessful spells at Brighton and Leeds followed before Clough found his new home at Nottingham Forest.
Often associated with Forest, despite his successful playing career, Clough won the First Division, four League Cups, two European Cups, among a litany of other pieces of silverware. Spending 18 years there, his career on the pitch and off it is one of the greatest by an English footballer, and it is clear to see why Wenger favoured him.
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