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As the debate around Pep Guardiola and Sir Alex Ferguson’s managerial greatness continues to dominate football discussions, former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton has shared his thoughts with GOAL on how Nottingham Forest legend Brian Clough measures up against today’s elite managers. Clough, one of the most charismatic figures to ever stand in the dugout, would have relished the chance to test his tactical acumen against modern masterminds such as Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti.

From Shankly and Busby to Guardiola and Ferguson, football has been shaped by a remarkable lineage of managerial geniuses. These icons from Spain, Scotland, Portugal and Italy have all assembled glittering trophy collections, boasting domestic league triumphs across the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and La Liga, along with multiple UEFA Champions League titles.

The ongoing debate over the greatest of all time intensified following Guardiola’s decision to step down from Manchester City after a decade of success at the Etihad Stadium, during which he secured 20 trophies. Inevitably, comparisons are being drawn with former Manchester United boss Ferguson, who guided the Red Devils to 13 Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns during his illustrious tenure at Old Trafford. The rivalry between the two managers also reflects a broader geographical and philosophical contrast within English football.

Yet, it is crucial to remember that some of the finest managers to ever influence the game made their mark long before the Premier League era began in 1992. From Herbert Chapman to Bill Shankly, via Matt Busby and Bob Paisley, football’s managerial history spans generations that are nearly impossible to compare directly.

Still, there is no denying Brian Clough’s place among the managerial elite. Having led Nottingham Forest to the First Division title and back-to-back European Cups, his achievements remain legendary. When asked how Clough might have fared against the likes of Guardiola and Mourinho, Shilton—speaking in association with Lynx Fine Fragrance and its ‘The Official Makeup’ campaign—said: “They’re all different in their own ways. Cloughie belonged to a different era, but he was one of a kind.”

He continued: “People often talk about Cloughie, but I always include Peter Taylor alongside him because Taylor brought another dimension. Cloughie had that special aura and commanded respect. Each of the managers mentioned have been great in their own right, which makes it hard to say who was the best. But Cloughie was certainly among the top names on that list.”

When asked about the value of Taylor’s contribution to Clough’s success, and whether the traditional art of talent spotting has been lost in the modern age of data and video analysis, Shilton responded: “No, I don’t think so. Clubs like Brighton and Bournemouth have excellent recruitment systems. They identify players from smaller divisions, give them opportunities to shine, and often sell them on for significant profit. It still comes down to good judgment.”

He added a personal anecdote: “I remember Peter Taylor telling me when I was 15, playing in the youth team on Saturday mornings, that he was always there watching, even though I didn’t know it. He told me later, ‘I was always going to make sure you played for one of my clubs.’ That level of attention and intuition made him such a great judge of talent.”

As the football world looks ahead to the 2026 World Cup in North America, some of the game’s finest managers will hope to make history while avoiding off-field drama. For Shilton, however, a deeply personal chapter has recently been closed. In collaboration with Lynx Fine Fragrance, he participated in an emotional act of reconciliation—symbolically shaking hands with a mascot representing the infamous moment from the 1986 FIFA World Cup. Dubbed ‘The Official Makeup’, this marked the first time Shilton publicly let go of the long-standing controversy surrounding that incident.

The event took place at Chelmsford FC’s ground, near Shilton’s hometown. For the occasion, Lynx flew in their Argentinian mascot—featured in the brand’s sponsorship of the FIFA World Cup 2026—to complete the symbolic gesture. The scoreline at full time read: Shilton x Lynx 1, Grudges 0.