Clough also had liver cancer

Brian Clough has been discharged from hospital following his liver transplant.

The former Derby and Nottingham Forest manager underwent the operation after being diagnosed with cirrhosis and cancer of the liver.

Doctors said without surgery Clough would have had only a few weeks to live.

The 67-year-old, who was being treated as an NHS patient, was operated on at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle in January.

I would have been worried if we had waited another two months Consultant Derek Manas

"He is very lucky. He had weeks or months (to live). I would have been worried if we had waited another two months," said consultant Derek Manas.

The transplant expert said strict tests had shown Clough had not been drinking for at least six months.

Clough revealed in his book Walking on Water the damage excessive drinking has done.

"I was spending time drinking when I should have been doing other things," said Clough.

"It was bound to take over. If you do something to excess, something has to suffer somewhere.

"Drink became more important to me than the anguish I was creating for those I loved most."

Clough guided Derby to the league title in 1972 before taking Forest to successive European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980.

Another leading British football figure, George Best, of Manchester United and Northern Ireland, also had a liver transplant last July after years of alcohol abuse.