‘Brian Clough locked me in his office for three hours, gave my new wife flowers and chocolates, and told me I wasn’t leaving until I signed for Nottingham Forest’ Martin Keown discusses the grilling he got from Old Big ‘Ead’

Aston Villa defender Martin Keown in action during the FA Cup 4th Round match against Liverpool at Villa Park on January 31, 1988 in Birmingham, England.

Martin Keown was a man in demand during the summer of 1989. An initial failure to break through properly at Arsenal had led him to Aston Villa in 1986, via a loan move to Brighton, and he enjoyed three successful seasons in the midlands.

Everton, who two years prior had won the league, eventually signed the 23-year-old defender on the eve of the season, with Keown snubbing two legends of football en route to Goodison Park. Though technically, he rejected Manchester United on the recommendation of their manager Alex Ferguson who, upon finding out that Everton’s wage package was double that of the Red Devils, suggested Keown think of his family and accept that offer.

Brian Clough, ranked at no.11 in FourFourTwo's list of the greatest managers ever (NOT the top 1), wasn’t as magnanimous and did nothing to hide his desire to bring Keown to the City Ground.