Viv Anderson has claimed Brian Clough would just have the edge over Sir Alex Ferguson in a battle of the managers.
Anderson was a notable figure in the careers of both men.
He won successive European Cups plus a league title under Clough at Nottingham Forest before becoming Ferguson's first signing as Manchester United boss in 1987 when he quit Arsenal to join his boyhood idols at Old Trafford.
The former England defender acknowledges there is not much to split the pair but, with Ferguson way out in front in trophy terms, he does believe there is a subtle difference.
"I would just take Brian Clough because he won back-to-back European Cups with a club that had average gates of 19,000 and was going nowhere when he arrived," he said.
"Sir Alex has achieved far more in terms of trophies but United always had the most money and the best stadium.
"But there were a lot of similarities between them.
"They had huge self-belief. They demanded things from players but at both clubs there was nothing but respect and admiration."
Anderson, who has just launched his autobiography 'First Among Unequals', was good enough to win 30 international caps, in the process becoming the first black player to appear for England.
Times were very different in 1979 and he is thankful, in this country at least, that huge improvements have been made. On the continent it is a different matter.
Last season, the Football Association requested a friendly against Spain was moved away from Madrid in order to avoid a repeat of the racist behaviour towards their team on a previous visit in 2004.
Trips to eastern Europe have brought more problems, and the England Under-21 team were targeted by Serbian supporters during the 2007 European Championships in Holland.
Anderson believes the problem has been allowed to fester for long enough, with fines far too low to have any effect.
"We have our house in order in the UK. Nobody is allowed to chant," said Anderson.
"It is when we go to various other countries.
"To get rid of it, the lead has to come from UEFA. The fines have to be more stringent.
"When you are talking about a £14,000 fine for abusing England players, it is a nonsense.
"I know it is a minority but if the fines were £1million, that would have an impact.
"People would stand up and take notice about who was coming into the stadiums and what they were doing.
"I don't know what the answer is, but the fines are ridiculous."
:: Viv Anderson MBE: First Among Unequals FullBack Media £17.99
He won successive European Cups plus a league title under Clough at Nottingham Forest before becoming Ferguson's first signing as Manchester United boss in 1987 when he quit Arsenal to join his boyhood idols at Old Trafford.
The former England defender acknowledges there is not much to split the pair but, with Ferguson way out in front in trophy terms, he does believe there is a subtle difference.
"I would just take Brian Clough because he won back-to-back European Cups with a club that had average gates of 19,000 and was going nowhere when he arrived," he said.
"Sir Alex has achieved far more in terms of trophies but United always had the most money and the best stadium.
"But there were a lot of similarities between them.
"They had huge self-belief. They demanded things from players but at both clubs there was nothing but respect and admiration."
Anderson, who has just launched his autobiography 'First Among Unequals', was good enough to win 30 international caps, in the process becoming the first black player to appear for England.
Times were very different in 1979 and he is thankful, in this country at least, that huge improvements have been made. On the continent it is a different matter.
Last season, the Football Association requested a friendly against Spain was moved away from Madrid in order to avoid a repeat of the racist behaviour towards their team on a previous visit in 2004.
Trips to eastern Europe have brought more problems, and the England Under-21 team were targeted by Serbian supporters during the 2007 European Championships in Holland.
Anderson believes the problem has been allowed to fester for long enough, with fines far too low to have any effect.
"We have our house in order in the UK. Nobody is allowed to chant," said Anderson.
"It is when we go to various other countries.
"To get rid of it, the lead has to come from UEFA. The fines have to be more stringent.
"When you are talking about a £14,000 fine for abusing England players, it is a nonsense.
"I know it is a minority but if the fines were £1million, that would have an impact.
"People would stand up and take notice about who was coming into the stadiums and what they were doing.
"I don't know what the answer is, but the fines are ridiculous."
:: Viv Anderson MBE: First Among Unequals FullBack Media £17.99
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