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Jose Mourinho poking the eye of Tito Vilanova is one of the many instances of managers losing itIn the game of football, managers are the main figure-heads of any team. They are responsible for bringing success to the club, establishing their brand, and representing the club in the media. So it is quite rare to see managers lose their cool, and even if they do, the instances are rarely violent.A touchline melt-down from a manager can lead to serious consequences for the club, which could end up costing the man his job. While most touchline incidents are usually verbal in nature, there have been a few incidents in the recent past that have gone beyond words.Here are nine instances where managers lost their cool on the touchline:
#1 Wenger pushes Mourinho
Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho have never really been on good terms since the Portuguese manager started managing Chelsea 11 years ago, and that hasn’t changed one bit during the Special One’s second spell at the Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho has always been famous for winding up his rivals, and he was at it again as Wenger lost his cool in Arsenal’s 2-0 loss at Chelsea on October 5th, 2014.
The Arsenal manager was furious with Gary Cahill’s challenge on Alexis Sanchez, and marched into Mourinho’s technical area in protest. Mourinho reacted by using some choice words and pointing towards Wenger’s technical area, which provoked the Frenchman to push Mourinho’s chest twice before the assistant referee had to interfere to end the stand-off.
While answering questions from the press regarding the incident, Wenger seemed unapologetic in his response and also claimed that it was Mourinho’s confrontation that stirred up his reaction.
“You would see if I really try to push,” Wenger said.
“Come on. I trust you to teach me all the moral lessons in the next two weeks. I can accept that.”
#2 Ally McCoist and Neil Lennon have a go at each other
The Old Firm derby between Celtic and Rangers is one of the fiercest derbies in the world. There have been many clashes in the stands and on the pitch throughout the history of this derby but Neil Lennon and Alan McCoist extended that war into the technical area when the two sides met in the knockout round of Scottish Cup on March 2nd, 2011.
In a fiery affair at the Celtic Park that saw thirteen cautions and three sending offs, the row between Celtic manager Neil Lennon and Rangers assistant manager Alan McCoist at the end of the match was the main flashpoint.
The two shook hands after Celtic’s 1-0 win but something was said by McCoist which really angered Lennon. The two Scots squared up and pushed each other around after a few verbal assaults, and had to be separated by their respective teams to avoid further violence.
The match ended 1-0 in Celtic’s favour, although both managers picked up bans for their conduct, with Lennon getting a four-match ban as opposed to McCoist’s two due to his previous disciplinary record.
#3 Nigel Pearson grabs James McArthur by the throat
Former Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson provided a shocking moment to fans during his side’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes went on to lose the game 1-0, although it was Pearson who grabbed all the headlines at the end of the match.
The 51-year-old was accidentally knocked over on the touchline by James McArthur before the final whistle, resulting in a friendly exchange between the two. The exchange seemed to become more sinister as the Foxes boss appeared to grab the Palace midfielder by the throat, before helping him up and pulling his shirt when he tried to get back onto the field.
Nigel Pearson strangely dismissed the incident as ‘light-hearted’ in his press conference, and when asked why he held McArthur back, Pearson replied:
"Because he said something to me. I don't have to reveal anything do I? I'm more than capable of looking after myself.”
"There's no problem with the player. He's a good player and a likeable lad.” he added.
#4 Alan Pardew\'s head butt
Current Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew has had a history of meltdowns throughout his career, but the worst one took place when he was still in-charge of Newcastle. The Tyneside club ran out 4-1 winners against Hull City at the KC Stadium on 2nd March 2014, in a match which saw their manager get sent to the stands.
While Newcastle United were 3-1 up, Pardew was on the receiving end of a shove from Meyler, when the midfielder went to retrieve the ball for a throw-in. He retaliated by head butting the Hull City player’s face, and got into a heated argument with him which got him sent off.
Pardew received a three-match stadium ban and a touchline ban for four further games as a punishment for his actions, which is the longest ban for a manager in England since 1989. He was also slapped with fines of £100,000 from his club and £60,000 from the FA, and underwent anger management counselling as a part of the punishment.
#5 Delio Rossi punching Ljajic
Delio Rossi, then Fiorentina manager, attacked one of his own players after substituting him, and was sacked from the club for it. The incident took place in Fiorentina’s Serie A game against Novara on 2nd May 2012, in a match which saw the Florence team steal a point after coming back from two goals down.
The manager substituted Adem Ljajic in the 32nd minute after his team went two goals down, and the Serbian attacker didn’t react too well to the substitution. He sarcastically applauded his boss, who then delivered a slap to the player once he sat down on the bench.
Rossi appeared to follow it up with a punch, but was pulled away by the assistants and players before things could get uglier.
#6 Umit Ozat punching and kicking a supporter
Akaragucu manager Ümit Özat completely lost his cool and punched a pitch invader who was celebrating his side’s equaliser, during their league match against rivals Manisaspor on 30th January 2011.
After Akaragucu’s 42nd minute equaliser Özat was seen racing out of his dugout, throwing his notebook on the ground and punching the air in delight. The former Turkish international went ballistic at the sight of the young Akaragucu supporter and landed a powerful jab on him, which sent him tumbling down. He then stamped on the victim’s head, after which the altercation was stopped.
Özat was banned for six matches and fined, and ironically managed the opposition team in his next season.
#7 Paolo Di Canio verbal rant at his striker
Paolo Di Canio was at his volatile best during Swindon Town’s League Cup defeat to Southampton in 2011. The 47-year-old intervened an argument between fitness coach Claudio Donatelli and Swindon striker Leon Clarke at the end of the gam but was soon involved in a fight with the striker.
The Italian manager tried to calm down Clarke after the final whistle and lead the player to the dugout to continue their post-match discussion. Once there, he grabbed the striker by his collar, pushed him against the wall and started shouting at him. The two had to be separated by some of the stewards and after this Di Canio was convinced that the striker would never play for his team again.
"Fortunately, he’s out now, even if he’s under contract. He’s never going to play with my team again, never,” said Di Canio after the incident.
”He doesn’t deserve to wear the Swindon Town shirt in front of the fans.” he added.
#8 Jose Mourinho eye-poking Tito Vilanova
After a decent first season at Real Madrid, Mourinho started the following season in slightly controversial fashion. His side were facing Barcelona in the second leg of the Spanish Super Copa in Barcelona, after they drew the first leg 2-2 at home.
A massive touchline row took place after Marcelo attempted a poor challenge on Cesc Fabregas, and as the fight kept escalating, Mourinho crept up to Tito Villanova and poked him in the eye.
Vilanova, who was the assistant manager under Pep Guardiola in 2011, retaliated by shoving the back of the Portuguese coach, following which both were handed bans for their respective actions. Barcelona went on to win the second leg 3-2 to gain a 5-4 aggregate victory and after the game, Mourinho famously claimed he hadn't even heard of “Pito Vilanova”.
He would go on to uncharacteristically apologise for his actions at a later date, saying: 'I should not have done what I did, obviously not,”
“The person who messed up there was me.” he said.
#9 Brian Clough punches pitch invaders
Late Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough pulled off one of the most famous managerial meltdowns ever during his side’s League Cup quarter-final tie against QPR in February 1989.
As soon as the final whistle went off, many pitch invaders made their way onto the field to congratulate Nottingham Forest players. This clearly seemed to have irked the Englishman, who began punching the fans on their heads as they passed by him.
Clough was charged with bringing the game into disrepute, fined £5000 and banned from the touchline for the rest of the season after his lashing out on the pitch invaders. He later apologised to the concerned fans, and told them to kiss him - as a way of saying he forgave them.
