After missing out on qualification for the 1974 World Cup, England's football manager Alf Ramsey is dismissed and succeeded by the celebrated Don Revie, who was then at the helm of Leeds United. Replacing Revie at Leeds is the outspoken Brian Clough, previously of Derby County and notorious for his criticism of Leeds's aggressive playing style. Notably, Clough's long-time aide Peter Taylor does not join him at Leeds, prompting Clough to assert in a Yorkshire Television interview that the players could never have been content under Revie's harsh methods.
The backdrop of Clough's rivalry with Revie is fleshed out through a 1967 FA Cup match, where Clough mistakenly believes he and Revie share similarities due to their common roots in Middlesbrough. However, during the match at Derby's Baseball Ground, Revie seemingly ignores Clough, leading to a fierce contest where Derby loses 0-2 to Leeds. Initially blaming Leeds's brutality, Clough soon realizes he's outmatched technically, prompting him to sign veteran Dave Mackay along with promising newcomers. Despite the concerns of the frugal chairman Sam Longson, Derby clinches the Second Division title in 1969 but faces Leeds again the next season, suffering a humbling 0-5 defeat.
In the film's current timeline, Clough's abrasive approach quickly alienates his Leeds squad, as he boldly declares they can dismiss their medals because they "never won any of them fairly." The season kicks off with a much-anticipated Charity Shield match against Liverpool, which serves as a swansong for the iconic Liverpool manager Bill Shankly and marks Clough's debut in charge of Leeds. However, this match spirals into chaos as captain Billy Bremner engages in a brawl with Kevin Keegan, leading to both players being dismissed, dramatically affecting the team's morale and resulting in a penalty shootout loss. Furthermore, Bremner faces a two-month suspension, leaving Leeds without a critical leader.
As the narrative shifts back to Clough's tenure at Derby, the club eventually celebrates its first League championship in 1972, paving the way for a European Cup campaign that sees them reach the semi-finals against Juventus. Despite Longson's recommendations to rest players, Clough stubbornly fields his strongest team in a match against Leeds, an ill-fated decision that leads to multiple injuries. Clough then engages in sarcastic banter with Bremner when the latter wishes him "Good luck in Europe." Following their elimination by Juventus, Clough’s frustration leads him to offer resignations after a health scare strikes Taylor, only to be blindsided when the board accepts and unwantedly terminates their roles.
With Dave Mackay stepping in as the new manager, hope vanishes for both Clough and Taylor. Nevertheless, the duo is eventually offered new positions at Brighton & Hove Albion, which they accept following a holiday in Majorca paid for by Brighton's chairman. After some conflict over their futures, Clough chooses Leeds over Brighton, while Taylor opts for stability in Brighton, leading to a bitter separation between the two friends.
Clough’s term at Leeds quickly deteriorates, beset by player conflicts and a dismal start—prompting the board to terminate his contract after confronting the grievances raised by Bremner and his fellow players. Following this setback, Clough partakes in another televised interview, where he faces Revie directly. Amid accusations between both men—Clough branding Revie as dishonest and cold-hearted while Revie retorts calling Clough inflexible—the session unearths their long-standing animosity, rooted in mutual failures and miscommunication over the years.
The film wraps up by revealing that Don Revie failed spectacularly in his role as England's manager, ultimately departing for a career in the Middle East, whereas Brian Clough and Peter Taylor reunited at Nottingham Forest, where they achieved even greater accolades—leading the team to the First Division title and achieving the unprecedented feat of winning consecutive European Cups. The tale concludes by labeling Clough as "the best manager that the English national side never had."
