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.

---

The LA Galaxy unveiled a statue commemorating David Beckham at Dignity Health Sports Park ahead of the club's season opener against Chicago Fire on Saturday. Beckham joined the Galaxy in 2007 and
David Beckham: LA Galaxy to unveil statue of former England

---

Watch Kyle Walker and John Stones' hilarious dance after

---

Rio Ferdinand branded Jose Mourinho 'laughable' for his comments in the aftermath of Manchester United's dramatic 3-2 victory over Newcastle. Mourinho was under intense pressure in the lead-up to

---

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.

---

Mar 02, 2018 · 10 Premier League games to go: Which teams have the toughest and easiest run-ins? In the relegation zone with 10 games to go, still with six teams to play that are currently in the top half

---

Transfer news RECAP: Look back at all of Friday's transfer action. Scotland's No.1 transfer blog has you covered with all the latest rumours.

---

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez' agent has claimed that his client will not become the next Celtic manager. The Scottish Sun recently reported that a flurry of bets had been placed of Martinez, making him favourite to replace Brendan Rodgers.
Roberto Martinez's odds to become Celtic's next permanent

---

Real Madrid vs Barcelona - El Clasico: What TV channel is it on, what time is kick-off and what is the latest team news? Real Madrid could virtually secure a first title in five years with
Barcelona vs Real Madrid Live Streaming El Clasico: When and

---

Sport > Football > Transfers Chelsea transfer news: Blues launch surprise move for David Luiz two years after selling defender for £50m. Luiz is unsettled in Paris and favours a return to London, but will set the Blues back nearly £40m
David Luiz facing second transfer away from Chelsea because

---

Liverpool have reportedly opened talks over a deal to sign highly-rated midfielder Sandro Tonali from Brescia.. Tonali's performances for the Italian Serie B side this season are understood to
Liverpool 'open talks' for Italy starlet Sandro Tonali - YouTube

---

Antonio Conte (Italian pronunciation: [anˈtɔːnjo ˈkonte]; born 31 July 1969) is an Italian professional football manager and former player. He is the head coach at Serie A club Inter Milan . Playing as a midfielder , Conte began his career at local club Lecce and later became one of the most decorated and influential players in the history
Chelsea F.C. - Wikipedia

---

Brendan Rodgers says Leicester 'certainly don't want to lose' Ben Chilwell but accepts Manchester City's interest means it is a situation the club will assess when the transfer window opens.
Rodgers ready to go all-out to keep 'Rolls Royce' Chilwell at

---

TOP STORY: Man City and United scrap for Mbappe. Manchester City and Manchester United are set to renew their rivalry in the transfer market as they go head to head to sign Kylian Mbappe. The 19
Transfer Window Gossip Round-Up - Read Premier League

---

Manchester United can win Champions League under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer What's the story? Liverpool legend Dietmar Hamann believes the Red Devils are playing some excellent football under the
Manchester United could win Champions League according to

---