6 instances when managers were booed by their own fans

Football fans describe themselves as the 12th man – an essential aspect of the team’s success. The role played by the fans in the beautiful game is immense. Through their actions performed in a game which include songs, ritual chants and banners, they motivate their side, intimidate the opposition, support the manager and also, at times, influence the referee’s decisions.In the context of the current season, the role of the fans vis-à-vis the manager becomes all the more magnified. In spite of suffering a number of defeats in the Premier League, Chelsea fans have never called for their boss’s head. Game after game, the fans appear to be by Jose Mourinho’s side, and that in current times is a great anomaly.However, not all football fans are so forgiving. There have been instances when fans have booed their own manager.

#1 Rafa Benitez gets a rough welcome at Chelsea

Rafael Benitez replaced Champions League winner Roberto Di Matteo as the Chelsea manager halfway through the 2012/13 season. His appointment did not go down well with Chelsea supporters who decided to welcome him in the roughest manner possible.

During his time at Liverpool, the Spaniard had some unflattering comments about the club and its fans. He had famously gone on record to state that he would never take the Chelsea job. Further, he even antagonized the Blues’ fans by undermining their passion and love for the club.

“We don’t need to give away flags for our fans to wave – our supporters are always there with their hearts, and that is all we need,” Benitez had said in 2007. “It’s the passion of the fans that helps to win matches – not flags.

“Chelsea is a big club with fantastic players, every manager wants to coach a such a big team,” the Spanish boss had said. “But I would never take that job, in respect for my former team at Liverpool, no matter what. For me, there is only club in England, and that’s Liverpool.”

All this came back to bite Benitez as he was unveiled as the interim manager for the side in a game against Manchester City. The fans booed him and carried huge banners depicting their feelings for the manager. The appointment of new managers always brings about a sense of optimism among the fans, but that was not the case with Benitez.

However, defying all odds, Rafael Benitez performed well with the club guiding the side to the Europa League title that season.

#2 Jose Mourinho booed by the Madridistas

A Madrid fan holds up a sign that translates to “See you never Mou”

The ‘Special One’ came in for some rough treatment from the home fans during his time at the Santiago Bernabeu. After leading Real Madrid to the Copa Del Rey title in the first season and the Liga title the next, things changed drastically in his third year in charge. Madrid failed to win a major trophy and there were a number of disappointing performances from his side.

Just before his final game in charge of the club, the Portuguese manager was booed by the majority of the home crowd at the Bernabeu. The reasons were plenty. However, the major reason is believed to be the falling out with team captain and club legend Iker Casillas.

The ex-Inter boss fell out with the World Cup winner and replaced him with Diego Lopez in the starting lineup. Lopez did put in some decent performances, but the removal of Casillas did not go down well with the Bernabeu faithful.

His side replied to the booing of their manager with a 6-2 thrashing of Malaga before the ‘Special One’ eventually called time on his Madrid adventure.

Jose Mourinho left Real Madrid in 2013

#3 Louis van Gaal faces Old Trafford\'s wrath

Louis van Gaal had replaced David Moyes at the start of last season in the role of the Manchester United manager. And in his first season in English football, Van Gaal did bring about some sanity into the world’s most famous football club. The club finished fourth last season and eventually qualified for the Champions League.

Bigger and better things were expected this season, but the Dutchman’s men have fallen well short. The side has played some poor football at times and there were a few insipid and boring performances from the Red Devils this season. On the attacking front, summer signing Anthony Martial has been a bright spot and he has been exciting to watch thanks to his lethal finishing.

So with a Champions League game against CSKA Moscow tied at 0-0, replacing Martial with Marouane Fellaini wasn’t surely the best of decisions. However, Louis van Gaal went ahead with this choice and in turn faced the wrath of the Old Trafford spectators.

The majority of the United fans did not agree with Van Gaal’s substitution and they made it clear to him when the manager was booed by his own fans. Thankfully for him, United went on to beat Moscow 1-0 courtesy of a Wayne Rooney strike.

#4 Alan Pardew faces the heat at Newcastle

The current Crystal Palace manager faced a lot of flak from his own fans during his time at Tyneside. After starting out nicely, things drastically changed for Pardew at Newcastle United.

The team suffered one defeat after another and this certainly did not go down too well with the Newcastle fans. Apart from the results, the performances weren’t also to the fans liking. The team was seen missing the qualities that enabled them to finish high in the league table in the previous two seasons.

It certainly did not help when Pardew openly criticized the fans. All this culminated into the fans calling for Pardew’s head. They booed him in the game against Cardiff City on 3 May 2014, which incidentally Pardew’s men won 3-0. However, that was just the beginning.

Over the next few months, the boos, the jeers and the banners became a common sight at the Sports Direct Arena. “Sack Pardew” became a common phrase, but it did not take long for the ex-Hammers’ man to turn it around.

Soon “Sack Pardew” became “Back Pardew” as Newcastle’s fortunes changed before Pardew headed off to Selhurst Park.

#5 Sam Allardyce too boring for West Ham

Sam Allardyce did pretty well during his time at West Ham United, asserting the club’s status as a genuine Premier League outfit. He took the side from the Championship and guided them to back-to-back mid-table finishes in the top tier.

Unfortunately for him, not all Hammers’ fans praise the good work done by him. In a game against relegation candidates Hull City, the manager was booed by his own fans for not winning well enough. The Hammers won courtesy of an own goal by James Chester.

The fans did not like the boring brand of football played by the team and they made their feelings clear. This was quite amusing considering the fact that Big Sam’s men had just won their fifth match in eight fixtures.

Over the years, Allardyce has earned the reputation of being pragmatic. He believes in clean sheets and getting the points on the board. The quality of football doesn’t rank among his top priorities. Perhaps he paid the price for that by being booed at Upton Park.

#6 Arsene Wenger booed at the Emirates

In spite of all the great work done by him, Arsenal fans showed that even Arsene Wenger wasnt immune from any jeers from their side. In a game against Manchester United in the 2011/12 season, the Frenchman faced the wrath of the Emirates faithful as he brought on Andrey Arshavin in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The English international was possibly the liveliest player on the pitch for the Gunners at the time. He threatened on quite a few occasions and also providedRobin van Persie with the assist forthe equalizer after his side had fallen behind to an early goal from Antonio Valencia.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had helped Arsenal equalise before being taken off for Arshavin

For many of the Arsenal supporters, the substitution went against their logic and they decided to let the manager know their feelings. Boos rang around the stadium as Arshavin came on and even striker Van Persie showed his displeasure at the replacement and was keen on having Oxlade-Chamberlain on the pitch.

Unfortunately for Arsene Wenger, the substitution failed to have the desired effect. Arshavin even lost his marker and the Gunners went on to lose the game courtesy of a late goal by current Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck.