Cloughie, described once as the best manager England NEVER had, made Francis Britain’s first £1million footballer when he signed the then 24-year-old striker for Forest from Blues in February 1979.
Francis played under Clough for the next two years during which time he scored the winning goal in their 1979 European Cup Final triumph against Malmo in what was his first ever European game.
"I never thought this was coming," Francis told Sky Sports News.
"He was one of the outstanding managers. Not only have we lost a great footballing man, but I have lost a good friend in Brian.
"I think over the years he was always recognised as one of the outstanding English managers and should have been boss of the national team, but that was never going to happen.
"The way that he managed football clubs meant he could never do that with the FA.
"He’s one of these characters that everyone loved to see and hear. He was compulsive viewing. He talked such great sense.
"It was a privilege and an honour to play under Brian Clough."
Clough died at the Derby City hospital on Monday morning of stomach cancer.