A £5million movie based on the life of the late, great football manager Brian Clough has begun shooting in time for its cinema release next year.

Actor Michael Sheen, who won a BAFTA nomination in 2006 for his depiction of ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair, takes the role of the man nicknamed 'Old Big Ead' in the film - The Damned United.

The film is based on a best-selling novel of the same name by author David Peace, which charts Clough's ill-fated 44-day reign in charge of Leeds United.

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Michael Sheen stars as Brian Clough

Clough is widely regarded as the best English manager never to manage his country and built his reputation at Nottingham Forest where he led the club to two European Cup successes.

However, the film ignores the success and instead charts his unhappy period at Leeds in 1974, where he lasted just six matches.

'He (Clough) was an iconic figure', Sheen told the Daily Mirror.

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Brian Clough (centre) was one of the most outspoken football managers of his generation

'He was the first manager who embraced being a celebrity, but he was also a very complex man.'

The film's producer, Andy Harries told the BBC: 'The film is dark in parts. The book is told through Clough's own mind, the film doesn't do that at all.

'The film tells the story in a much more straight, narrative way.'

The production will be funded by a combination of Sony, the BBC and Screen Yorkshire, and will cost around £5million. It is due for release next year.

Among a host of famous names set to appear are Irish actor Colm Meaney, who will play Clough's fictional adversary Don Revie, while Jim Broadbent and Timothy Spall also star.