Top 10 football insults

After Newcastle boss Alan Pardew's rather less than gallant description of Manchester City counterpart Manuel Pellegrini last weekend, we compile a list of ten other classic football insults.

6) Georgi Hristov On Barnsley's Women Macedonian Georgie Hristov had already revealed his homesickness in 1998, but less than a year after joining from Partizan Belgrade the 21-year-old rather burnt his bridges with the South Yorkshire town in an interview with a Belgrade sports magazine. "I'm finding it difficult to find a girlfriend in Barnsley, or indeed settle into a decent way of life," Hristov admitted. "The local girls are far uglier than the ones back in Belgrade or Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, where I come from. "Our women are much prettier. Besides, they don't drink as much beer as the Barnsley girls, which is something I don't like at all." What an absolutely dreadful man. 5) Ramon Calderon And Alex Ferguson To Each Other Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon was always likely to rile Sir Alex with his 2008 words over the future of Cristiano Ronaldo, claiming that United should be "happy and proud [to be part of] the transfer of the century." By December, the response had arrived, with Fergie making his feelings clear to the press: "You don't think we'd get into a contract with that mob, do you? Jesus Christ. I wouldn't sell them a virus." By April 2009, with a deal looming ever closer, Calderon labelled Ferguson as a "tormented soul" after the Scot had claimed the Real Madrid bigwig was nothing more than a "buried dinosaur". Can't you two just play nicely?
4) Joe Kinnear To Various Journalists "Which one of you is Simon Bird?" "Me." You're a ****." Surprisingly, the next line in the transcript of Joe Kinnear's infamous 2008 press conference was Bird saying "thank you", which isn't the typical response to a brusque and portly man addressing you with the c-word. But Kinnear was only just getting started, launching into a foul-mouthed and expletive-laden rant at the media following his return to football as Newcastle manager. In total the Irishman managed to swear 52 times over the course of the interview, which ended in brilliant fashion after one journalist plucked up the courage to ask: "Enjoyed getting back in the swing of things?" "Absolutely," said a red-faced Kinnear. "I've loved every moment of it." Shakespeare and Wordsworth were unavailable for comment. 3) Marco Materazzi To Zinedine Zidane It was the quote that ended a career in disgrace. Zinedine had already become just the fourth man to score in two World Cup finals when the game headed into extra time. The Frenchman went up for a challenge with Marco Materazzi, who he then accused of pulling his shirt. After being sarcastically offered Zidane's shirt, Materazzi responded personally. "I prefer the w**re that is your sister," he said. And then the red mist came down, acting as the curtain to a quite wonderful career. 2) Roy Keane To Mick McCarthy Originally (and predictably) intended as the number one pick, we all knew that Roy Keane was rather, shall we say, unhinged, but the lead-up to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea rather proved it. After declaring himself dissatisfied with the facilities at Ireland's Saipan resort, where they were preparing for the World Cup, and announced he would be returning home. After being questioned by McCarthy over an article in the Irish Times in which both the manager and team were criticised. Keane took it rather well. "Mick, you're a liar ... you're a ******* ******. I didn't rate you as a player, I don't rate you as a manager, and I don't rate you as a person. You're a ******* ****** and you can stick your World Cup up your ****. The only reason I have any dealings with you is that somehow you are the manager of my country and you're not even Irish you English ****. You can stick it up your ********." Full marks if you can work out all the missing words without resorting to Google.
1) Maradona On His Own Children El Diego could have had his own top ten in fairness, and there were plenty of possible contenders. Like his rant against journalists ("To those who did not believe: now suck my **** - I'm sorry ladies for my words - and keep on sucking it"), or his hatred of Pele ("A doll that's being moved by remote control") and the United States ("I hate everything that comes from the United States. I hate it with all my strength"). However, all those pale into insignificance when you consider the following words Maradona made against HIS OWN CHILDREN: "My legitimate kids are Dalma and Giannina. The rest are a product of my money and mistakes." That leaves (at least) two individuals publicly labelled as mistakes by their own father. We just can't stop laughing at that astounding lack of shame and self-awareness of the man. His own children. This article first appeared on Football365