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John McGovern
John McGovern is the former professional footballer hailed as the youngest player to compete in all four divisions of the Football League, at just 19 years old. He is famous for being part of the Nottingham Forest side that won the European Cup twice, under the management of Brian Clough. Today John McGovern is a commentator and coach as well as a highly entertaining after-dinner and inspiring motivational speaker.
About John McGovern
John McGovern is a Scottish footballing legend, best known as the inspirational captain of the Nottingham Forest side that won back-to-back European Cups, as well as a League Championship and two League Cups under Brian Clough’s leadership. During his career, John played over 500 league games for clubs including Hartlepool United, Derby County, and Nottingham Forest, earning two U23 Scottish caps and a place in the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
Born in Montrose, Scotland, John moved to Hartlepool at the age of seven. Despite a late start in football, he became the youngest player to feature in all four divisions of the Football League by the age of 19. He enjoyed early success with Derby County, winning a League Championship medal, before going on to cement his place in history with Nottingham Forest during its golden era.
Following his playing career, John moved into management, serving as Player-Manager at Bolton Wanderers, Assistant Manager at Plymouth Argyle and Hull City, and Joint Manager at Rotherham United. Today, he remains a central figure at Nottingham Forest, regularly hosting match-day events, working as a BBC Nottingham commentator, and coaching players around the world – from summer schools in the USA to training camps in the oil fields of Azerbaijan.
A charismatic and engaging speaker, John shares stories from his remarkable career, offering powerful lessons on teamwork, leadership, and resilience. His corporate clients include Royal Bank of Scotland and many other leading organisations, who value his ability to motivate and inspire audiences with insights from the world of top-flight football.
To book Sports Speaker John McGovern, contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com
