Players often have the sensational skill and will normally take the plaudits from the press for a major success.
However, to have a world class player and a team that is a winning success, you need to have a tactical genius, an approachable man-manger and a controlling influence within the dressing room.
There have been some fantastic managers in the last 50 years and Total Football’s Simon Wright has chosen his top ten.
We are now into the top three and ranked in third position was the greatest manager to have never managed England.
He turned Derby into an English leader and spearheaded Nottingham Forest to the holy grail of European Cup triumph.
In football, Brian Clough almost did it all and his colourful character is evidently missing from today's crop of young managers.
3. Brian Clough
TEAMS MANAGED: Hartlepool United (1965-1967), Derby County (1967-1973), Brighton & Hove Albion (1973-1974), Leeds United (1974), Nottingham Forest (1975-1993)
HONOURS: European Cup 1979, 1980, Football League First Division 1972, 1978, League Cup 1978, 1979, 1989, 1990, European Super Cup 1979, Football League Second Division 1969, Charity Shield 1978, Texaco Cup 1972, Watney Cup 1970
Brian Clough (pictured) has often been considered as the greatest manager to never take charge of the national team.
He was a real character and the way he turned Nottingham Forest around, from a run-of-the-mill second division side in the 1970s, to back-to-back European Cup triumphs shouldn’t ever be forgotten.
Starting off with Hartlepool United, it was Derby County that brought him the first piece of proper success.
Arriving with the Rams as a second division club, they became Champions of England within four seasons and reached a European Cup semi-final, in what is often referred as their most successful period in history.
Declining relations with the chairman at the Baseball Ground, Sam Longson saw Clough depart the Midlands in 1973.
He then endured tense times in charge of both Brighton and then more famously, Leeds United.
A big critic of Don Revie’s sides for their lack of discipline in the 1970s, Clough never settled in Yorkshire and famously quit after just 44 days in the job.
His success at Derby and struggles at Leeds were portrayed in the 2009 football film 'The Damned United.'
Forest become Champions of Europe
Months later he took over at Nottingham Forest, getting the club promoted to the top flight in 1977.
A year later, they won the Division One Championship, to make Clough one of only five different managers to win the championship in England with two different clubs.
He bought Trevor Francis in the summer of 1978, making him Britain’s first £1m player and that paid off, when Francis headed home the only goal of the 1979 European Cup final.
Forest became champions of Europe and this was repeated in 1980, as they and the outspoken Clough reached their peak.
They also set a record of 42 top flight games unbeaten, which stayed as a record until Arsenal's 'Invincibles' broke it on their staggering unbeaten run in 2003-2004.
There were League Cup triumphs in 1989 and 1990, plus an agonising FA Cup final defeat to Tottenham in 1991, which was the only major trophy to elude Brian Clough in his distinguished career.
Issues with alcohol saw a decline in his health and in 1993; he retired from the game with Nottingham Forest relegated from the FA Premier League in his final season as a manager.
Brian Clough died from stomach cancer on 20 September 2004, aged 69.
One of the most controversial but vivid figures in football has gone forever but the memories will remain for generations to come.
By Simon Wright - Follow me on Twitter @Siwri88
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