When Nottingham Forest icon Brian Clough had a bizarre run in with heavyweight boxing icon Muhammad Ali

Brian Clough’s legacy travelled beyond Nottingham to the acclaim of the wider football world, but it wasn’t just those in football who took notice.

Clough’s methods weren’t for everybody, but they clearly worked perfectly at Forest. Clough never used to focus on the opposition which Trevor Francis credited as the reason for the 1979 European Cup win over Malmo, a team those within the City Ground knew little about.

His unique managerial style wouldn’t always pay off, emphasised by Clough’s decision to reject Mark Hateley who went on to have tremendous successes at the likes of AC Milan and Rangers. It was the iconic manager’s way or nothing, though, which led to many viewing him as too outspoken.

In fact, Clough always wanted the England job but this outspoken style contributed to the Forest legend never being offered the job. His words nearly got him in a whole lot more trouble, though, when he caught the attention of Muhammad Ali.

Muhammad Ali once called Brian Clough out in a bizarre verbal spat

Ali is one of the greatest boxers of all time and a household name for even those who don’t care for the sport, but he once took time out of the ring to send a tongue-in-cheek warning to Clough, who was adopting a similarly forthright communication style.

Recalled by The 42, Ali appeared on The Big Match with a video message for the former Forest manager who was a guest on the panel.

Ali said: “I’m Muhammad Ali, the world knows who I am. They know I’m confident and they know I talk. But there is some fella in London, England, named some Brian…Brian Clough. Some soccer player or something.

“Anyway, I heard all the way in America, heard all the way in Indonesia, that this fella talks too much. They say he’s another Muhammad Ali, there’s just one Muhammad Ali. And I want you to [know], whoever you are, you’re not a fighter and you don’t take my job. I’m the talker. Now, Clough, I’ve had enough, stop it.”

Nobody in boxing could ever match Ali on the mic, but clearly, Clough’s personality would’ve been a threat if they were in the same realm.

However, the two did meet after this shocking altercation, with Clough recounting the meeting in his autobiography.

What Brian Clough said about meeting Muhammad Ali

The Forest icon jokingly responded that he wanted to fight the heavyweight great. However, the two did meet and exchange pleasantries a year after the Big Match moment.

On the meeting, Clough said: “I talked to Muhammad Ali and he called me Cloughie. He said, ‘You’re far too young to be a manager.’ He said, ‘You should be boxing.’”

Strangely enough, though, Clough does have a history with punching, including once hitting Roy Keane in the chest after making a mistake one game.

“I gave a backpass. I’ll argue [about it] all day. Mark Crossley, who I really like and who is a good guy, he was a bit slow getting back.

“We had the game won, but the fact we had a replay and had to go down to London, after the match he [Clough] was fuming with me. He punched me in the chest!”

Keane credited Clough for helping him settle in Nottingham so perhaps these physical lessons were exactly the tonic for the Irishman.

Clough’s willingness to fight does somehow make the altercation with Ali especially interesting and who knows, maybe Clough was actually serious about being willing to get in the ring with the heavyweight king.