Top Ten: Managers' rants

Skysports.com remembers 10 famous managerial rants

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 26th March 2009  

Top Ten: Managers' rants

Wenger: 'I didn't see it...'

Related links

News

Feature

Top Tens

In the wake of outbursts from Arsene Wenger and Joe Kinnear, skysports.com remembers 10 separate occasions when managers might have been better advised to think before speaking.

Arsenal boss Wenger has caused controversy by accusing Stoke of intentionally attempting to injure his players in the Gunners' defeat at the Britannia Stadium two weeks ago.

Meanwhile, with the Football Association pushing its Respect campaign, Newcastle interim chief Kinnear raised a few eyebrows with a 'Mickey Mouse' description of referee Martin Atkinson in last weekend's loss at Fulham.

And now a look through the history books identifies other managers' rants about match officials and all things football which have caused controversy.

Kevin Keegan - 'I will love it'

Um... Um... Where to start when compiling a list of famous football managerial rants? Hang on, didn't former Newcastle manager Keegan once utter four famous little words?

The phrase, 'I will love it' earned an eternal place in Premier League folklore after Keegan's temper tantrum at Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson 12 years ago.

In the April of the 1995/96 season, Keegan had thrown away a seemingly invincible 12-point lead in the title race and the Magpies leader fell hook, line and sinker for Ferguson's notorious mind games.

The Scot suggested Leeds, and a Nottingham Forest side featuring Stuart Pearce, tried harder against United than when facing Newcastle as the season reached squeaky bum time, much to the annoyance of Keegan.

When asked about United in a live Sky Sports interview, the 'Geordie Messiah' snapped, exploding with the immortal line: "I will love it if we beat them, love it!"

Chris Coleman - Walton whinge

The ex-Fulham boss possesses an unimpressed glare which could strip paint from 100 yards and he is certainly one manager whose Mr Hyde side you would not wish to discover.

But that is exactly what referee Peter Walton succeeded in doing in the 2006/07 campaign following a decision not to award Fulham a last-gasp penalty against United at Craven Cottage.

The Red Devils led 2-1 as the final whistle approached on the banks of The Thames, but visiting goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar - playing against his former club - clattered into Heidar Helguson inside the 18-yard area.

A stonewall penalty, or so Coleman thought. Walton did not flinch, leading the Fulham boss - who acknowledged he would receive a fine for the eruption - to suggest the official had 'lost his nerve'.

A disgusted Coleman went on to imply Ferguson was fluffing a spare seat pillow on the United bus in preparation for giving the match official a lift home.

Harry Redknapp - Excuses, excuses

If any Tottenham players are considering an attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of their new boss they should realise it is difficult to fool Redknapp, or be prepared to think of a better excuse than that offered by a mystery man who once struck 'Arry with a stray shot when supposedly aiming at goal.

Stood on the side of a training pitch while informing a television reporter of his latest injury concerns, Redknapp was hit by a loose effort from one of two unknown assailants who were having a kick-about in the background.

Turning from the camera, the former Portsmouth, Southampton and West Ham boss politely enquired: "Why the f*** did you kick that over here? You tried to kick it in the goal and you hit me?!? Get some f****** brains, will you? No wonder you're in the f****** reserves!"

Wenger - City slicker

It would be possible to form a pick & mix of Wenger's arguments with referees, opposing managers, governing bodies, or pretty much anybody from the football world.

The Frenchman does not always earn a place in peoples' affections with his stubborn, 'I didn't see its', compared with frequent complaints when a perceived injustice against the Gunners takes place.

And it is Wenger's outburst following a three-game improper conduct ban placed on striker Thierry Henry in 2002 which is remembered here.

Henry - now at Barcelona - was punished for criticism of Graham Poll after a December 2001 defeat to Newcastle, in which the France international had to be restrained by team-mates and members of the police.

Wenger, though, believed a three-match suspension for an incident involving the constabulary was 'very harsh'.

He went on to suggest that the reprimand was due to media hype and that London-based Arsenal had paid the price for being, 'a big club in a big city'.

Sam Allardyce - Riley 'riot'

Perhaps not everyone's favourite referee, and Mike Riley received strong complaints from ex-Bolton manager Allardyce in 2006.

Big Sam was hit with a £2,000 fine and warned about his future conduct by the FA after accusing Riley of 'blatant inconsistency' in a January clash with Blackburn.

Bolton drew 0-0 at Ewood Park, but Allardyce was incensed by the first-half dismissal of Hidetoshi Nakata, and so were the travelling Trotters faithful.

Years of pent up frustration came flooding out of Allardyce as he accused Riley of 'nearly causing a riot'.

He then turned into a part-time mathematician, calculating: "Give me a minute and I will prove what the referee (Riley) has done. He has refereed us seven times and we've had five players sent off, four in the first half. The statistics speak for themselves."

Steve McClaren - 'Write what you want'

"Gentlemen, if you want to write whatever you want to write, you can write it because that is all I am going to say. Thank you. Nothing concerns me about what people write or say. What matters is what is on the inside."

Former England manager McClaren attempted to achieve the moral high ground with the media by offering the above words following an unimpressive 3-0 victory over minnows Andorra in doomed Euro 2008 qualification, but he only succeeded in providing more red top cannon-fodder.

From day one of his reign in international football, McClaren - who would go on to earn the infamous 'wally with a brolly' nickname - was fighting the critics.

The statement at the Montjuic Stadium was designed to demonstrate a determination and focus on the job in hand but, after the grammatical confusion of the opening sentence is negotiated, it must be remembered that England failed to qualify and the sack soon followed.

Gerard Houllier - Pretty Polly

Liverpool's old boss had a habit of producing grin-inducing sound bites during his six-year spell at Anfield (anyone ever impersonated eating grass as a goal celebration?).

However, his criticism of referee Poll following a 2-0 August defeat to Arsenal at Highbury in 2000 - in which two Liverpool players were sent off - did not amuse all.

Gary McAllister was dismissed on his full debut for the Reds, while Dietmar Hamann followed in the second half as the visitors crashed to goals from Lauren and Henry, leaving Houllier memorably smirking with disbelief on the sidelines.

Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira was also handed his marching orders, the Frenchman's second red card in successive games, but Houllier still felt that Poll had a vendetta against his side following, arguably, harsh punishments.

In a post-match interview, Houllier said: "I think Mr Poll had a bad game, he had a very bad game. Maybe it is the start of the season. We are very unlucky with Mr Poll, I have never won with him - that is clear."

Jose Mourinho - You can't make an omelette...

The 'Special One' was, and is, always one to speak his mind and he was at his colourful best when bemoaning a perceived lack of quality in his old Chelsea squad.

Under pressure from club owner Roman Abramovich to combine eye-catching football with success, the Portuguese explained that he did not have the neccesary tools at his disposal.

Mourinho - who has since moved to Inter Milan - seemed to always have a wisecrack up his sleeve and his simile explanation of an inability to produce stylish football, because he could not acquire the neccesary players in the transfer market, would have Gordon Ramsey green with envy.

He said: "If you have no eggs, you have no omelette. And it depends upon the quality of the eggs. Some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes. So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem."

Sir Alex Ferguson - Atkinson abuse

In last season's FA Cup the United manager let loose at referee Atkinson after a shock sixth round defeat to eventual competition winners Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

Pompey sneaked a 1-0 victory courtesy of a Sulley Muntari penalty, and an incensed Ferguson believed his players were not protected by officials.

The Red Devils boss accused Atkinson of failing to award a penalty when Sylvain Distin crashed into Cristiano Ronaldo in the first half and he implied the referee should be sacked after a poor performance, as is the case with managers.

Ferguson went on to describe the match as 'ridiculous', 'a joke', 'unbelievable' and 'disappointing'.

Neil Warnock - Rafa rage

In May 2007, with one eye on an approaching UEFA Champions League final appearance, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez named a weakened side to a face a relegation-threatened Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Liverpool lost the match 1-0 and Fulham went on to avoid the drop by one point at the expense of Sheffield United and Warnock, who was then managing the Blades.

In 2008, Benitez again took his side to struggling Fulham and a still bitter Warnock, who had moved on to Crystal Palace, suggested that the Spaniard would again ring the changes as he prepared for a European Cup semi-final meeting with Chelsea.

Warnock - who would have survived with Sheffield United in 2006/07 had they avoided defeat at home to Wigan on the final day of the season - even hoped Liverpool would not win another trophy under Benitez and suggested that Fulham and Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed would likely send a congratulatory hamper to Merseyside.

Former Valencia boss Benitez said that he would contact his lawyer.