Brian Clough died from cancer in 2004, aged 69

Widow Barbara expressed her gratitude to Nottingham City Council for naming part of the A52 between Nottingham and Derby Brian Clough Way.

She said: "Brian would have been amazed but genuinely appreciative".

The city council had suggested renaming the 15-mile stretch of road and was backed by Derby City, Erewash Borough and Broxtowe Borough councils.

'Very moved'

A total of 23 signs were put up along the A52 on 19 September 2005 - exactly one year after Brian Clough's death.

Barbara Clough added: "We, as a family, feel very moved each time we travel on the A52 and we know that Brian would have been amazed but genuinely appreciative - that road was so familiar to him, as it is to many people.

"He would have especially loved the linking Derby to Nottingham sentiment for obvious reasons."

Clough, who played for Middlesbrough and managed Derby County and Nottingham Forest to League championship wins in the 1970s, died from cancer, aged 69.

He won two European Cups with Nottingham Forest, in 1979 and 1980.

Clough also won two England caps and scored 251 goals in 274 games, as a striker for Middlesbrough and Sunderland.