When coaches attack: the 15 best managerial touchline tantrums

David Meyler of Hull City clashes with Alan Pardew, Manager of Newcastle United during the Barclays Premier League match between Hull City and Newcastle United at KC Stadium

Chelsea coach Rui Faria was hit with a six game stadium ban this morning, for his conduct during Chelsea’s defeat to Sunderland at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League two weeks ago. Faria had to be held back by the rest of the coaching staff, losing his cool and earning himself an extended pre season holiday in the process. Such a display got us thinking of other great moments of coaches losing it on the touchline; here are 15 of our favourites.

1) Bob Malcolm Hits His Own Player

Blackpool. The club that makes V-flicking caretaker boss Barry Ferguson looks like a shrinking violet. The Bloomfield Road side have been, frankly, awful in the second half of the season and while they are the outsiders to go down heading into the Championship final day, things have been fraught in recent weeks. Last month, assistant boss Bob Malcolm took his frustration out on substitute Stephen Dobbie. The pair came together as Dobbie was about to come on and when Dobbie was unmoved by Malcom’s ridiculous attempt at a dummy punch, the Blackpool assistant went the whole hog and backed up his feint with a slap around Dobbie’s face. Great motivation. Unsurprisingly, Dobbie couldn’t stop them losing 1-0 to second placed Burnley.

2) Paul Ince

Paul Ince being sent to the stands

Malcolm wasn’t even the first Blackpool coach to draw attention for his touchline antics. Former manager, and all round nice guy, Paul Ince earned himself a five game stadium ban earlier in the season for threatening to knock out the fourth official. Sadly we couldn’t find any footage, but judging by the picture below, with the bemused and waving Bournemouth fans and copious numbers of luminous stewards in the area, it was exactly what it said on the tin. A touchline tantrum.

3) This Bulgarian Manager Steals The Referee’s Cards

March onto the pitch? Check. Berate referee? Check. This manager well and truly lost his cool, resorting to stealing the referee’s cards. Shame he’d already sent him off really. We get the feeling he didn’t really plan one through properly. Having stolen the cards, his attempts at ripping them up didn’t really work as well as expected for a grown man and some flimsy bits of cardboard.

4) Arsene Wenger

More of the frustrated sort than an out and out bawler, Arsene Wenger has nonetheless had some moments where mask of elegance has slipped. Our favourite moment of Wenger anger came in this North London derby with Tottenham. Down 3-2, Wenger continued his crusade on waterbottles (started with that kick at Old Trafford), throwing his to the floor, before realising that he probably looked a bit of a berk left holding just the lid and bouncing that for good measure. Water everywhere and a shake of the head from Pat Rice.

5) Paulo Di Canio Fights With His Own Player

It didn’t take long. Less than two months into his spell in charge of Swindon Town and Paulo Di Canio had his first touchline punch up. The Italian lashed out at his own man (and summer signing) Leon Clarke, before continuing the fight in the tunnel. Fortunately for Di Canio, Swindon’s pockets were deep enough to move Clarke, a man meant to be their star forward, on to another club. And to think, Sunderland thought appointing Di Canio would end peacefully.

6) Peter Reid Makes Friends With A Fourth Official

We think former Leeds boss Peter Reid may have wanted to make a sub here. Nice of him to ask politely.

7) Tim Sherwood and THAT Gilet

North London derbies. They get to people. Here’s Tim Sherwood doing exactly what most right minded people would do if they looked down and realised they were wearing a gilet. From Made In Chelsea to TOWIE in one fell throw of the gilet.

Tim Sherwood loses it on the sidelines (via Caughtoffside)

8) Manager In Peru Goes In For A Tackle

For anyone considering a career as a football manager, it’s probably best to leave the 50-50 balls to the players to contest. Referees aren’t fond of managers doing it for some reason. Against the rules or something apparently.

9) Steve Evans. In General.

Convicted tax fraudster and general hooligan on the touchline, Rotherham manager Steve Evans must surely go down as one of the most hated managers in England. The indiscretions are so numerate that this piece will have to make do with the edited highlights.

These include, among other things, committing widespread tax fraud to pay his players wages at Boston, being arrested and ejected at half time of a match in Grimsby, of which he was the away manager, for his touchline conduct, engaging in a touchline/dressing room spat with then-Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler that ended with police in both dressing rooms and a claim for racist abuse made and withdrawn to Sussex police by the Scot Evans, and most recently a six game stadium ban for exposing himself to a female steward in a game at Bradford City.

A lovely man. These guys don’t like him either.

10) This Guy

Dugouts these days. They just don’t make ‘em like they used to.

11) Jurgen Klopp Loses Control

Earlier this season, Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp was sent off for this display of aggression during his side’s Champions League game with Napoli. We would not like to be that fourth official.

Jurgen Klopp makes his feelings known to the fourth official (courtesy: ball.ie)

12) Jose Mourinho

Calmly walking over to a fracas, then Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho looked to the calmest man in shot for most of this clip. That is until he poked former Barcelona boss, the late Tito Vilanova, in the eye.

He does angry as well though. Just ask Anthony Taylor.

13) Genaro Gattuso And Joe Jordan – Not The Best Of Friends

More touchline shenanigans, this time involving former Tottenham coach Joe Jordan and Milan legend Genaro Gattuso.

14) Big Sam Allardyce

Some managers meltdown with rage, but this is perhaps even more scary. West Ham manager Sam Allardyce resorts to manic laughter when he loses his cool.

15) Alan Pardew

Strap yourselves in, it’s time to wrap this up with some of Alan Pardew’s best touchline moments.

First up, he picked a fight with Arsene Wenger. Perfectly natural that the first thing you think of when your team score a goal is to rub in the opposition’s face.