7 Instances when managers gave their players the hairdryer treatment

The term “hairdryer treatment” was first used by former Manchester United striker, Mark Hughes, when referring to the fearsome decibel-busting rollickings dished out by his manager Sir Alex Ferguson over his 27 years in charge at the Old Trafford. When Sir Alex was angry with his players, he shouted at them with such force, it was like having a hairdryer switched on in their faces. It became known around the globe as the hairdryer treatment.Whenever managers get mad at their players, the hairdryer comes out. But internet searches do a poor job explaining what it entails aside from a lot of shouting laced with an abundance of profanities (and in David Beckham's case, a boot to the head). What makes it so feared?It has been much talked about for quite sometime now. Football is a sport of such passion and dedication that it gets the best and worst out of you at most times. Managers going after their players is also a sign which proves the same. It must happen often in world football, but only some players dare to make it public.We look at five such instances as recounted by the players where the managers gave them the hairdryer treatment.

#1 Sir Alex Ferguson vs David Beckham

The infamous boot incident involving Ferguson and Beckham that led to a relationship breakdown between the two

The most publicised incident of the hairdryer treatment is that of David Beckham and his then manager Sir Alex Ferguson. It was back in 2003 when United were knocked out of the FA

Cup by Arsenal. What particularly angered Ferguson during the game was Beckham’s inability to track back when Arsenal attacked, and scored through Sylvain Wiltord.

Ferguson’s ire grew when Beckham ignored his criticism afterwards. After the match in the dressing room, United’s manager, standing 12 feet away from the midfielder, kicked a boot that accidentally caught the midfielder above the eye. Describing the incident in detail, both the manager and player have given an insight in their respective books.

Beckham was furious and wrote in his own autobiography of wanting “to go for the Gaffer” after the boot hit him. Whereas, Ferguson said in his book: "He(David) was 12 feet from me. Between us on the floor lay a row of boots. David swore. I moved towards him and as I approached I kicked a boot. It hit him right about the eye. Of course, he rose to have a go at me and the players stopped him. 'Sit down,' I said. 'You've let your team down. You can argue as much as you like'."

“Just f***** patch him up," Fergie was said to have told the club’s physio after the incident.

But two days later the story broke as Beckham wore an Alice band in public to highlight his injury. Ferguson had to react decisively and told the board that Beckham was to be sold. That incident meant the end for the player at United. Beckham was soon sold to Real Madrid.

Ferguson added, “David thought he was bigger than Alex Ferguson,’’ and described him as "the only player I managed who chose to be famous, who made it his mission to be known outside the game".

Ferguson insists he holds no grudge against the former England captain but say things were different when their relationship broke down in 2003. Beckham says that the bust-up is long-forgotten and that there are 'no hard feelings' between the old friends.

Despite Ferguson having nurtured Beckham to superstardom, he clearly believes the player made a mistake. He says that if David had focused and stayed, he would have been revered as a United legend.

#2 Sir Alex Ferguson vs Wayne Rooney/Louis Saha

Ferguson, as described by Rooney, shouted right at his face

It should come as no surprise to our readers that Sir Alex is again on this list, given his nature and authority at Old Trafford during his time at the club. Ferguson is said to have been involved in another such hairdryer incident which involved his forwards Wayne Rooney and Louis Saha.

Saha is said to have faced the wrath more than once. In an interview after he left Manchester United, Saha recalled his memory of the hairdryer when he scored two goals before halftime but got the treatment in the halftime break. Saha recalls “When I headed towards the changing room (at halftime), I was feeling proud (after scoring 2 goals). As soon as I sat down, I was woken up in a violent way — Sir Alex Ferguson rendered me deaf.

“I was surprised but yes, it was me he was yelling and screaming at. He was going mad and I quickly understood why — he was unhappy because we came in with only a three-goal lead when we should have wrapped the game up."

Saha has been on the end of another such wrath when United travelled to Celtic in the Champions League group stage in 2006 and lost 1-0. It is one incident that Rooney recalls in his book, calling it the worst he has ever seen. He recalls that after Saha failed to convert the last minute penalty for United and draw the game level. Saha got the full treatment as Ferguson was livid to have lost to Gordon Strachan’s side.

Rooney tells in his book, ”It’s the worst “hairdryer” I’ve seen. He’s (Ferguson) in Louis’ face, shouting and screaming. But Louis isn’t the only one getting an earful. The manager knows I’ve been negotiating a new deal with the club and he saves some for me, “Players wanting more money from the club and new deals - you don’t deserve anything after that performance!”’

Rooney also revealed in his book “My Decade in the Premier League”, that later in the 2006/07 season, Ferguson ripped into the team just before United lifted the trophy at Old Trafford as his side went down 1-0 to West Ham on the final day of the season. He said, ‘Most sides would be celebrating in the dressing room, getting ready for the champagne and the photos, but not us. We’re staring at the floor like school kids, the manager giving us the “hairdryer”.’

Rooney described the hairdryer in his book, ‘When it happens, the manager stands in the middle of the room and loses it at me. He gets right up in my face and shouts. It feels like I’ve put my head in front of a BaByliss Turbo Power 2200. It’s horrible. I don’t like getting shouted at by anyone. It’s hard for me to take, so sometimes I shout back. I tell him he’s wrong and I’m right.’

#3 Fabio Capello vs Paolo Di Canio

Capello had a succesful run as Milan coach after taking over from Arigo Sacchi

It was back in the year 1998 when reports of a bust-up between AC Milan’s manager Fabio Capello and striker Paolo Di Canio came to the fore. It was AC Milan’s preseason tour to China. Capello had previously agreed to manage Real Madrid and was due to leave Milan for Madrid. Milan were playing a friendly in Beijing against a Chinese side and leading 1-0 at halftime.

Even though they were leading, Capello substituted Canio and brought on a defender. According to Di Canio in his book “The Autobiography”, ”The night we played in Beijing. Baggio, Lentini and I were up front. We took a 1-0 lead. Naturally, Capello decided to take off a forward and send on a defender to protect the lead even though it was an irrelevant exhibition and he was leaving in two weeks anyway.

And naturally, I was the one he picked on. I got angry. Once again, I felt I had been singled out for speaking my mind.” He then queried his manager why he was so obsessed with the result of a friendly and why he was not letting him play the whole game to which Capello replied that he had to maintain a tactical equilibrium. Canio was not impressed and said “What equilibrium? Against a bunch of Chinese who can't even play proper football? We're here to entertain!"

Canio says that Capello replied with the F-word. Capello wasn't the kind of man who minced words, he said "You're coming off because you're not trying.” to which Canio replied “You're crazy, you're sick in the head.” Capello who always had a quick temper, lunged at the player again, "You go f*** off!”

Canio describes shoving his manager and taking a few swings at each other. Milan's coaching staff had to steam in and take them apart. The Italian player was still livid, "You can't treat me like this. You already signed for Madrid, you are a nobody here! I still have my contract; you'd better learn to respect me!" Capello must have had four people holding him back.“

He bellowed at Canio to leave his sights and go back to the hotel. Canio looked him straight in the eye and replied: "You're not going to tell me what to do. Whether I go back to the hotel or not, it's up to me, it's my decision. You're going to stop deciding things for me. One thing is for sure, I'm not going to hang around here and look at your face any longer!" But the manager got his wish as Canio walked straight out of the stadium, grabbed a cab and returned to the hotel.

Di Canio never played for Milan again. It was also rumored that Capello belted Canio in the AC Milan changing room after a row. Capello denied it, saying: "It wasn't me."

#4 Arsene Wenger vs Arsenal dressing room

Arsene Wenger was furious when his side was trailing 1-0 against Liverpool

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has always been known at Arsenal for his professional nature with players and club members. No one would think that Wenger could seriously pose a hairdryer treatment. But let’s remind you of one such instance where the Frenchman unleashed havoc on the Arsenal dressing room ultimately inspiring them to earn a comeback victory against Liverpool.

The Gunners were trailing 1-0 against the Merseysiders after Dirk Kuyt scored and Wenger’s men went into the dressing room at half-time on a low morale. But their 65-year-old manager who is reputed for staying composed on most occasions produced a rare moment where he exploded on the players to get them focused for the second half.In the end, the scolding did yield a comeback for the North Londoners thanks to Glen Johnson's own goal and Andrei Arshavin's stunning strike, merely acknowledging that "it is nice to think I can still surprise them after 13 years" and insisting that he felt his team-talk had been as "composed" as ever."You respond to what you think the team needs, but very rarely do I get annoyed," he said. "I always try to be composed - I thought I was today too."The first half was all Liverpool's. We needed a performance in the second and we got one. It was a great response."Former Gunner Cesc Fabregas was quite shocked to see Wenger react like that. "The boss screamed. I've never seen him like that before," said the Spaniard. "He was really disappointed in the first half and said we didn't deserve to wear the Arsenal shirt if we played like that. I think he was right."

#5 Louis Van Gaal vs Hristo Stoichkov

Stoichkov recently blasted van Gaal on his way of managing United

The Bulgarian icon Hristo Stoichkov, a five-time La Liga winner and European Cup champion with Barcelona is a club legend and was one of the best at the club during his seven years at the club divided into spells. He had worked under Louis Van Gaal in the manager’s first spell in charge of Barca back in 1998.

But Stoichkov’s second spell at Camp Nou was brought to a premature end by van Gaal, following the Dutchman's appointment in 1997, a year after Stoichkov's return to the Catalans. The manager and the player clashed when the Bulgarian was injured. Van Gaal was said to have given Stoichkov the cold shoulder throughout the 1997/98 season at Barca.

The five-time La Liga winner made just four league appearances during his single season under the Dutchman, before being sold to CSKA Sofia. The incident where Van Gaal used his hairdryer treatment was during the player’s injury when he had his family with him at the ground (Camp Nou) and the manager went nuts. He went after the player and asked his wife “how it was possible that she married someone like Hristo.” To which she responded that her husband was a Ballon d'Or winner.

It is said that before this incident, Van Gaal had previously given the hairdryer to Stoichkov in the dressing room on many occasions. Despite the player being one of the best in his position, Van Gaal never really played him in the first team. His talent was wasted by a manager who is known to claim his authority on everything around him.

It is no secret how talented and highly-rated the Bulgarian was as he top-scored at the 1994 World Cup where he led Bulgaria to a fourth place finish. The Barca legend scored 118 goals in 254 appearances during his two spells with the Catalan giants.

And despite it being 18 years ago, Stoichkov is in no mood to move on, also alleging that van Gaal was disrespectful to his wife. Stoichkov blamed Van Gaal for his Barcelona exit 17 years ago. In a recent interview, Stoichkov said: “I would never be under the orders of this Dutchman” and branded Van Gaal a “scum”.

Referring to Van Gaal managing Manchester United, Stoichkov also added, “He (Van Gaal) makes players suffer. He is destroying all the players because he is so mediocre, players have left because of him. He destroys clubs, he did it with Barcelona, and after they take years to build. He has spent £200m [at United] and the other day I saw his first game of the season: disastrous.”

#6 Ruud Gullit vs Alan Shearer/Duncan Ferguson

Ruud Gullit dropped Alana Shearer in the game against Sunderland which they lost 2-1

Back in the 1999/00 season, Alan Shearer, Duncan Ferguson and Newcastle United manager Ruud Gullit had a falling out - but on this occasion, it was not the players who paid the price.

It was the manager. It is a commonly held view on Tyneside that Ruud Gullit did not hand in a team sheet to the referee before Newcastle United’s Tyne-Wear derby defeat to Sunderland; he passed him a suicide note.

The Dutch manager dropped the local hero and also axed Duncan Ferguson in a crazy decision, naming young Wearsider Paul Robinson in attack instead. Shearer wasn't going to warm the bench quietly. Gullit then claimed that Newcastle were doing better without the duo as his side tossed away a 1-0 lead in the game to lose on Tyneside 2-1.

Shearer was actually beaten to the manager’s office the next morning by Ferguson who made his feelings known to the ex-AC Milan ace. It is said that the three men were involved in an argument. Ferguson and Shearer were in Gullit’s office and it is believed to have been the fiercest arguments between a manager and their player(s).

The Newcastle No 9 hit out at Gullit and with that, the fans turned on their manager. Gullit tendered his resignation. Gullit later said: "I told him (Shearer) to his face he was the most overrated player I have ever seen." Gullit, though, did not just lose a football match, he lost a civil war and with it his job.

Ever since being at Newcastle, Gullit had been involved in a bitter power struggle behind the scenes with the club’s favorite son and record signing, Alan Shearer, and chose the club’s biggest match of the season to go public with it.

He had already ostracized Shearer’s close friend Rob Lee by taking away his squad number, annoyed by what he perceived as resistance to his methods, and turned his attention to the club’s captain. “It had become a case of who went first, me or Ruud,” remembered Lee. “He didn’t speak to me at all in the summer. The next thing I knew a message was passed to me that I should train with the reserves.”

#7 Mick McCarthy vs Roy Keane

In his playing days, Roy Keane was the star of the show for the Republic of Ireland, and he didn't mind throwing his weight around. But during preparations for the 2002 World Cup, his outspoken nature backfired and he was kicked out of the team.

Keane was less than impressed with the training methods under McCarthy and told him so. When the pair tried to calm things down with some 'clear the air' talks, a slanging match ensued and McCarthy decided to send Keane home. "I cannot and will not tolerate being spoken to with that level of abuse being thrown at me so I sent him home," said McCarthy.

Roy Keane labelled Mick McCarthy as a liar and was sent home for his behaviour

He later accused the midfielder of being "obnoxious, degrading to me and downright rude". It was reported that Keane provided McCathy with some, shall we say, anatomically challenging instructions with what to do with the World Cup: "You can stick it up your bollocks."

Among Keane's issues with Irish management were the conditions of the training field, travel arrangements (which made the players sit in second class seats on flights, while the Football Association of Ireland(FAI) officials sat in first class), strategy, expectations, diet and McCarthy's competence.

In his autobiography, Keane said that before a World Cup qualifier away versus the Netherlands, the Irish players were eating cheese sandwiches because pasta, the proper diet before games, was not available.

The Irish Times article increased tensions greatly. McCarthy decided to question Keane about the article. In a team meeting, McCarthy held up a copy of the article and asked “What’s this all about?", and an argument started. McCarthy then accused Keane of faking injury when Ireland were playing Iran in the second leg of the play offs. McCarthy is said to have given a real hairdryer to the Irish star but Keane was not going to sit quietly.

He unleashed a stinging verbal tirade against McCarthy, calling him a liar and even saying that he "didn't rate you(McCarthy) as a player, I don't rate you as a manager, and I don't rate you as a person.” He also made it obvious to his manager that the only reason he had any dealings with McCarthy was because somehow he was the manager of their country.

McCarthy then held a press conference announcing that he had sent Keane home for his behavior. The general public in Ireland was divided about apportioning blame for the incident.

Niall Quinn, Keane’s Ireland teammate, observed in his autobiography that "Roy Keane's 10-minute oration (against Mick McCarthy) was clinical, fierce, earth-shattering to the person on the end of it and it ultimately caused a huge controversy in Irish society."

But at the same time, he was also critical of Keane's stance, saying that "[He] left us in Saipan, not the other way round. And he punished himself more than any of us by not coming back”