History Literature / TheDamnedUnited

** Dave Mackay was unhappy with the suggestion that he stabbed Clough and Taylor in the back by becoming Derby manager and received damages from the filmmakers. Mackay was also no longer a Derby player when he was appointed manager of the club; he had left two years earlier.
** The film implies that Clough reneged on a deal to manage Brighton. In fact, he did manage Brighton for nine months, winning only 12 of his 35 games in charge.
** The film shows Clough blaming Derby's European Cup semi-final defeat to Juventus on Leeds injuring their players. He actually blamed the Italian side, whom he accused of having "bought" the West German referee. Furthermore, the match in question against Leeds took place before Derby's quarter-final tie against Spartak Trnava, which Derby won.
** However, both Sheen and Meaney received a lot of praise for their uncanny portrayal of Clough and Revie, respectively.

* OopNorth: Clough and Taylor are Northerners and proud. Clough doesn't want to manage [[TheGreatBritishSeaside Brighton & Hove Albion]] because it's so far south "we're practically in ''France''!"

->'' Oh, yes, you're the shop window, I grant you that. The razzle and the bloody dazzle. But I'm the goods in the back! Without me, without somebody to save you from yourself, Brian fucking Clough, you're not just half. You're nothing!''

* AnachronicOrder: The film cuts between Derby's victories in the late Sixties and Clough taking over Leeds in the mid-70s.
** The book is even more chaotic in this aspect, going through Clough's career from his beginnings as a player all the way to his fateful days Leeds.
* AntiHero: Brian Clough. Moreso in the novel, which portrays him as an arrogant, paranoid and foul mouthed alcoholic, haunted by personal demons.
* BreakTheHaughty: Clough's stint as manager of Leeds Utd. is one big breaking moment.
** The book is slightly more complex on this aspect; Clough's motivations are more diverse and complicated and less clear, although his [[{{Pride}} arrogance]] is evident throughout.
* ButForMeItWasTuesday: In the film, Revie is honestly taken aback that Clough has been harboring such a grudge for so long, over an incident he himself didn't even ''notice''.
** Although Revie was infamous for painstakingly researching his opponents and it seems unlikely he would not have recognized Clough, so it is somewhat debatable whether or not he really didn't notice or if he was trying to play mind games. It is still a lot of emphasis to place on a somewhat minor slight, however. It also wasn't the RealLife reason for the animus between Clough and Revie.

* {{The Film of the Book}}: The 2009 film starring Creator/MichaelSheen, Colm Meaney, and Timothy Spall.

* {{Foreshadowing}}: In the film, Taylor foreshadows real life's more {{distant finale}} when, at the end, he makes it up with Clough but says that he knows Clough will "fuck things up" between them again.

** The film ends with Clough and Taylor reconciled and they go on to surpass their successes at Derby by winning the league title and two consecutive European Cups with Nottingham Forest, while the villain of the piece, Don Revie, is said to have failed in the England job and left in disgrace. This is based on real events.
*** Reality was more of a [[DownerEnding downer]]. The film omits Clough and Taylor's final bitter falling out, and Clough's anguish over Taylor's early death; the two men had not spoken for years when Taylor died in 1990.

* HypercompetentSidekick: Peter Taylor for Clough, specially in the movie.
** It's not that Clough isn't competent, but he wouldn't have gotten very far without Taylor's expertise. The film's ending has him realizing this.
** OlderSideKick
* HomoeroticSubtext: Clough and Taylor. The whole movie could be considered a bromance between them. They both have wives and children but they seem to spend more time hugging and kissing each other.
** Not to mention their reconciliation, which plays out like a AnguishedDeclarationOfLove
* HeterosexualLifePartners: Clough and Taylor

** Revie's ReasonYouSuckSpeech at the end brings about the reconciliation of Clough and Taylor.
** Clough's ReasonYouSuckSpeech speech to the Leeds players would also reasonate with many English football fans of that era. They [[EarnYourTitle weren't known as "Dirty Leeds" for nothing]].
* MiserAdvisor: Sam Longson

* OopNorth: Clough and Taylor are Northerners and proud. Clough doesn't want to manage [[TheGreatBritishSeaside Brighton & Hove]] because it's so far south "we're practically in ''France''!"

-->''I'm going to give you some good advice, Brian Clough. No matter how good you think you are, how clever, how many fancy new friends you make on the telly, the reality of footballing life is this: the Chairman is the boss, then come the directors, then the secretary, then the fans, then the players, and finally, last of all, bottom of the heap, the lowest of the low, comes the one who in the end we can all do without - the fucking manager!''

-->'''Taylor''': ''Without you, I'd still have a job in Derby! A job and a home that I love. Oh, yes, you're the shop window, I grant you that. The razzle and the bloody dazzle. But I'm the goods in the back! Without me, without somebody to save you from yourself, Brian fucking Clough, you're not just half. You're nothing!''
-->'''Clough''': '' I'm nothing? I'm nothing? Don't make me laugh. What does that make you then, Taylor? Something? You're half of nothing! Nothing's parasite! A big fat pilot fish that feeds on nothing. A bloody nobody! The forgotten man! History's fucking afterthought!''

** RivalTurnedEvil: How Clough views Revie, he originally considered him a WorthyOpponent and NotSoDifferent but after meeting (or pointedly ''not meeting'') the man, he changes his view of him.

* IdiotBall: The Leeds board. Appointing the club's number one critic as manager was TooDumbLive territory.

''The Damned Utd'' is a book written by David Peace, later adapted into a movie named ''The Damned United'' by Tom Hooper and starring Creator/MichaelSheen. The main character is the famous British [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball football manager]] Brian Clough. The account is a blend of [[VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory fact, fiction and rumour]], and simultaneously tells two different stories from Clough's career:

* JerkassHasAPoint: Revie's ReasonYouSuckSpeech at the end brings about the reconciliation of Clough and Taylor.

* AntiHero: Brian Clough. Moreso in the novel, which portrays him as arrogant, paranoid and foul mouthed alcoholic, haunted by personal demons.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Clough gives one to the Leeds Utd players in his first training session, telling them they have won all their caps and titles by "bloomin' cheating" and that they can just throw them in the bin. It's a reflection of how far his own self-regard has taken him over that he thinks this will actually work.

** Former Derby player and manager Dave Mackay was unhappy with the suggestion that he stabbed Clough and Taylor in the back by becoming Derby manager and received damages from the filmmakers. Mackay was also no longer a Derby player when he was appointed manager of the club; he had left two years earlier.

** The film shows Clough blaming Derby's European Cup semi-final defeat against Juventus on Leeds injuring their players. He actually blamed the Italians, whom he accused of having "bought" the West German referee. Furthermore, the match in question against Leeds took place before Derby's quarter-final tie against Spartak Trnava, which Derby won.

* It's 1974, and Brian Clough has just been appointed manager of reigning league champions Leeds United. But Clough hates Leeds, and Leeds hate Clough. Moreover, Clough's loyal and capable NumberTwo, Peter Taylor, has opted not to join him. Clough struggles in the face of the hostile Leeds players who are still loyal to their old boss (and Clough's [[ArchEnemy nemesis]]) Don Revie, and having to cope without Taylor. Ultimately Clough is sacked after just 44 days in the job.

** The book is even more chaotic in this aspect, going through Clough's carrer from his beginnings as a player all the way to his fateful days Leeds.
* AntiHero: Brian Clough. Moreso in the novel, which portrays him as arrogant, paranoid, foul mouthed and haunted by personal demons.

** The film ends with Clough and Taylor reconciled and they go on to surpass their successes at Derby by winning the league title and two consecutive European Cups with Nottingham Forest, while the villain of the piece, Don Revie, is said to have failed in the England job and left in disgrace. This is based on real events. However, reality was more of a [[DownerEnding downer]]. The film omits Clough and Taylor's final bitter falling out, and Clough's anguish over Taylor's early death; the two men had not spoken for years when Taylor died in 1990.

''The Damned Utd'' is a book written by David Peace, later adapted into a movie named ''The Damned United'' by Tom Hooper and starring Creator/MichaelSheen. The main character is the famous British [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball football manager]] Brian Clough. The account is largely fictional and simultaneously tells two different stories from Clough's career:

* It's 1974, and Brian Clough has just been appointed manager of reigning league champions Leeds United. But Clough hates Leeds, and Leeds hate Clough. Moreover, Clough's loyal and capable NumberTwo, Peter Taylor, has opted not to join him. Clough struggles in the face of hostile players who are still loyal to their old boss (and Clough's [[ArchEnemy nemesis]]) Don Revie, and having to cope without Taylor. Ultimately Clough is sacked after just 44 days in the job.

** A number of people who witnessed the events portrayed questioned their accuracy. Clough's son Nigel did not recall his father burning Revie's old desk, despite supposedly being present when it happened. 1960s and 70s Leeds player John Giles called the book and film "rubbish". He successfully sued the publishers for the way he was portrayed in the book and, consequently, his role in the movie was much reduced. Pat Murphy, a BBC journalist and friend of Clough, pointed out [[http://sabotagetimes.com/football/leeds-derby-17-bogus-damned-united-facts 17 factual inaccuracies]] in the film. Former Derby player and manager Dave Mackay was unhappy with the suggestion that he stabbed Clough and Taylor in the back by becoming Derby manager and received damages from the filmmakers.

* It's 1974, and Brian Clough has just been appointed manager of reigning league champions Leeds United. But Clough hates Leeds, and Leeds hate Clough. Moreover, Clough's loyal and capable NumberTwo, Peter Taylor, has opted not to join him. Clough struggles in the face of hostile players who are still loyal to their old boss (and Clough's [[ArchEnemy nemesis]]) Don Revie, and having to do without Taylor. Ultimately Clough is sacked after just 44 days in the job.

* [[TimeSkip Back in 1967]], Clough is manager of Derby County, a middling Second Division team with no recent history of success. Together with Peter Taylor, they steadily improve the club's fortunes. Derby are promoted to the First Division and then become champions of England at the expense of Leeds, while Clough's charismatic and opionated nature makes him a celebrity. However, Derby owner Sam Longson grows weary of Clough's antics, and their relationship reaches breaking point, resulting in Clough and Taylor leaving, [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor without intending to]].

Both book and film end with Clough being sacked by Leeds and (in the earlier timeline) [[WhereItAllBegan being appointed Leeds manager]]. The film's epilogue notes that Clough and Taylor were reunited at Nottingham Forest, and led to the club to even greater heights than Derby.

* HappilyEverAfter: The film ends with Clough and Taylor reconciled and they go on to take Nottingham Forest to the top of the leagues, just as they did with Derby County. This is based on real events. What's elided is their final falling out and the anguish Clough felt over Taylor's early death. The film ends on a definite high note, reality not so much.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: A number of people who witnessed the events portrayed questioned their accuracy. Clough's son Nigel did not recall his father burning Revie's old desk, despite supposedly being present when it happened. 1960s and 70s Leeds player John Giles called the book and film "rubbish". He successfully sued the publishers for the way he was portrayed in the book and, consequently, his role in the movie was much reduced. Pat Murphy, a BBC journalist and friend of Clough, pointed out [[http://sabotagetimes.com/football/leeds-derby-17-bogus-damned-united-facts 17 factual inaccuracies]] in the film. Former Derby player and manager Dave Mackay was unhappy with the suggestion that he stabbed Clough and Taylor in the back by becoming Derby manager and received damages from the filmmakers.
** As an aside to that, both Sheen and Meaney received a lot of praise for their uncanny portrayal of Clough and Revie, respectively.

* It's 1974, and Brian Clough has just been appointed manager of reigning league champions Leeds United. But Clough hates Leeds, and Leeds hate Clough. Moreover, Clough's loyal and capable NumberTwo, Peter Taylor, has opted not to join him. Clough struggles in the face of hostile players who are still loyal to their old boss (and Clough's nemesis) Don Revie, and having to do without Taylor. Ultimately Clough is sacked after just 44 days in the job.

Both book and film end with Clough [[WhereItAllBegan being offered the Leeds job]]. The film's epilogue notes that Clough and Taylor were reunited at Nottingham Forest, and led to the club to even greater heights than Derby.

''The Damned Utd'' is a book written by David Peace, later adapted into a movie named ''The Damned United'' by Tom Hooper and starring Creator/MichaelSheen. The main character is the famous British [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball football manager]] Brian Clough. The account is largely fictional and tells two different stories, so to speak, at the same time:

The film's epilogue mentions that Clough and Taylor were reunited at Nottingham Forest, and led to the club to even greater heights than Derby.

* Back in 1967, Clough is manager of Derby County, a middling Second Division team with no recent history of success. Together with Peter Taylor, they steadily improve the club's fortunes. Derby are promoted to the First Division and then become champions of England at the expense of Leeds, while Clough's charismatic and opionated nature makes him a celebrity. However, Derby owner Sam Longson grows weary of Clough's antics, and their relationship reaches breaking point, resulting in Clough and Taylor leaving, [[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor without intending to]].

* VetinariJobSecurity: Inverted. Clough and Taylor tender their resignations at Derby, believing the board consider them indispensible and will reject them. To their surprise, the board accepts their resignations.

''The Damned Utd'' is a book written by David Peace, later adapted into a movie named ''The Damned United'' by Tom Hooper and starring Creator/MichaelSheen. The main character is the famous British [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball football manager]] Brian Clough. The account is largely fictional and tells two different stories, so to speak, at the same time: Clough's tenure as manager of Leeds United, interlaced with the story of his career as a manager up to that point, mainly his time at Derby County.

''The Damned United'' is a book written by David Peace, later adapted into a movie by Tom Hooper and starring Creator/MichaelSheen. The main character is the famous British [[UsefulNotes/AssociationFootball football manager]], Brian Clough. The account is largely fictional and tells two different stories, so to speak, at the same time: Clough's tenure as manager of Leeds United, interlaced with the story of his career as a manager up to that point, mainly his time at Derby County.

* VeryLooselyBasedOnATrueStory: A number of people who witnessed the events portrayed questioned their accuracy. Clough's son Nigel did not recall his father burning Revie's old desk, despite supposedly being present when it happened. 1960s and 70s Leeds player John Giles called the book and film "rubbish". He successfully sued the publishers for the way he was portrayed in the book and, consequently, his role in the movie was much reduced. Pat Murphy, a BBC journalist and friend of Clough, pointed out [[http://sabotagetimes.com/reportage/leeds-united-15-damned-united-facts-that-are-nonsense/ 17 factual inaccuracies]] in the film. Former Derby player and manager Dave Mackay was unhappy with the suggestion that he stabbed Clough and Taylor in the back by becoming Derby manager and received damages from the filmmakers.

''The Damned United'' is a book written by David Peace, later adapted into a movie by Tom Hooper and starring Creator/MichaelSheen. The main character is the famous British [[TheBeautifulGame football manager]], Brian Clough. The account is largely fictional and tells two different stories, so to speak, at the same time: Clough's tenure as manager of Leeds United, interlaced with the story of his career as a manager up to that point, mainly his time at Derby County.

* TheBeautifulGame: Very much considering it revolves around football ([[UsefulNotes/AmericanEnglish or soccer to heathens]]).

One interesting aspect of both the book and the movie is that it's a rare sport story that subverts/averts/ignores pretty much all the traditional SportsStoryTropes we're so used to: there is no BigGame and the games don't come DownToTheLastPlay, the [[UnderdogsNeverLose underdogs can and will lose]], and the OpposingSportsTeam isn't even a villain! As RogerEbert summarizes in his review of the movie: "''The Damned United'' avoids all sports movie cliches, even the obligatory ending where the [[MiracleRally team comes from behind]]. Is this the first sports movie where the [[BreakTheHaughty hero comes from ahead and loses]]?"

''The Damned United'' is a book written by David Peace, later adapted into a movie by Tom Hooper and starring MichaelSheen. The main character is the famous British [[TheBeautifulGame football manager]], Brian Clough. The account is largely fictional and tells two different stories, so to speak, at the same time: Clough's tenure as manager of Leeds United, interlaced with the story of his career as a manager up to that point, mainly his time at Derby County.

* {{The Film of the Book}}: The 2009 film starring MichaelSheen, Colm Meaney, and Timothy Spall.

** Taylor, on the other hand, calls out Clough's egotism and lust for glory, and his extremely self-destructive tendencies, by pointing out how Clough has cost him personallu and abused his loyalty. Brian doesn't take it well, giving a rather less-fair salvo in return..

** Although Revie was infamous for painstakingly researching his opponents and it seems unlikely he would not have recognized Clough, so it is somewhat debatable whether or not he really didn't notice or if her was trying to play mind games. It is still a lot of emphasis to place on a somewhat minor slight, however. It also wasn't the RealLife reason for the animus between Clough and Revie.