HITC Sport has put together together an all-time XI made up of the greatest ever players from Derby County and Nottingham Forest.
Derby County – Nottingham Forest
Over the years, Derby County and Nottingham Forest have shared success, and plenty of players. The two midlands clubs have rich histories, both standing as league title winners, with Forest also winning two Champions League trophies.
Nowadays it’s a slightly different story, with both sides struggling in the Championship. Considering the size of both clubs, these Midlands rivals arguably both deserve to be playing Premier League football, and their patient fan-bases are waiting for their club’s to start delivering. With their glory days firmly behind them, HITC Sport is taking a look back at some of the club’s best ever players, combining them in a Derby County/Nottingham Forest All-Time XI.
Goalkeeper – Peter Shilton (Derby County & Nottingham Forest)
Peter Shilton
The England goalkeeper, who is considered to be one of the best England has ever had, made 202 appearances for Nottingham Forest between 1977-1982 and 175 appearances for Derby County between 1987-1992. Peter Shilton also made over 125 appearances for the national side.
Right-Back – Ron Webster (Derby County)
Making 455 appearances for Derby County between 1960-1978, the second-highest appearance record of any Derby player. Popular for his touch-tackles, Webster was part of the highly successful era at the club under the tenure of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor.
Centre-Back – Des Walker (Nottingham Forest)
Making 274 appearances for Forest between 1984-1992, Des Walker remains one of the best central-defenders in Nottingham Forest’s history. Despite only scoring one goal, the English defender one fans over with his spirited performances and tough-tackles, and made 59 appearances for the national side.
Centre-Back – Igor Stimac (Derby County)
Derby’s Igor Stimac holds off Everton’s Ibrahima Bakayoko
The Croatian defender became a cult-hero at Derby County after making himself an integral part of Jim Smith’s successful Rams side back in the 90s. Making 84 appearances for the Rams, Igor Stimac is still considered one of the best Captain’s the Rams have ever had.
Left-Back – Stuart Pearce (Nottingham Forest)
Known by many as ‘Psycho’, Stuart Pearce made over 400 appearances for Nottingham Forest between 1985-1997. Known for his feisty attitude on the pitch and rocket of a left-foot, Stuart Pearce also made 78 appearances for the England national side, and recently managed Nottingham Forest, though not to any great success.
Right-Midfield – Stefano Eranio (Derby County)
Stefano Eranio – Derby County
Making 95 appearances for the Rams during their Premier League era between 1997-2001, Italian Stefano Eranio is still talked about today at Pride Park. Popular with fans for his passion on the pitch, as well as his mesmerising skill, Eranio now works with the AC Milan academy; a club he made 98 appearances for.
Centre-Midfield – Archie Gemmil (Derby County & Nottingham Forest)
The Scottish wizard made 261 appearances for the Rams between 1970-1977 as well as 58 appearances for the Reds between 1977-1979. At Forest, Gemmil played a major part in Brian Clough’s first European Cup, as well as helping Derby County to two league titles.
Centre-Midfield – Martin O’Neil’ (Nottingham Forest)
Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill
The midfielder made 285 appearances for the Reds between 1971-1981 after being signed by legendary manager Brian Clough. With Forest, O’Neill won one league title as well as two European Cups, and has since gone on to achieve managerial success with Leicester City, Celtic, Aston Villa and now the Republic of Ireland national side.
Left-Midfield – John Robertson (Derby County & Nottingham Forest)
The Scottish winger made 397 appearances for Nottingham Forest over two spells with the club, as well as making 72 appearances for Derby County between 1983-185. Winning two European Cups with Forest as well as one league title, John Robertson is still regarded as one of the best players to ever where the Red shirt.
Striker – Steve Bloomer (Derby County)
Arguably the greatest player in Derby County’s history, Steve Bloomer played for the Rams between 1891-1906, and then had a second spell with the club between 1910-1914. Scoring an incredible 291 goals in 473 appearances, Steve Bloomer is remembered via a stone bust inside Pride Park stadium, next to the manager’s dugouts.
Striker – Trevor Francis (Nottingham Forest)
Making 70 appearances and scoring 28 goals between 1979-1981, Trevor Francis is the striker that fired Nottingham Forest to European glory twice as a player, and is considered by many Forest fans to have been one of the most important goalscorers in the club’s impressive history.
Trevor Francis – Nottingham Forest
Manager – Brian Clough (Derby County & Nottingham Forest)
It couldn’t have been anyone else. The greatest English manager that England never had; Brian Clough brought both clubs their most successful ever periods, guiding Derby County from the Second Division to two league titles, and doing the impossible with Nottingham Forest, guiding them to a league title and two European Cups. The road that separates Derby and Nottingham is adequately named ‘The Brian Clough Way’, and the manager remains a legend of both sides.
The statue of Brian Clough
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