10 most difficult footballers to manage

#1 Mario Balotelli

Balotelli and Roberto Mancini were once involved in a scuffle at a training session

Presenting to you the Godfather of all footballing delinquents – Mario Balotelli!

Much has been discussed about the oddities of the previous players in this slideshow, but none can hold a candle to Mafia-man Balotelli. Let’s discuss why our Brilliant & Belligerent Bambino is the ultimate manager mangler:

Firstly, he tried to beat the stuffing out of Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini on the training ground. The aforementioned players on this list have only tried to do this to their opponents or to their teammates, or throw bottles at their manager, at worst.

But, Balotelli, oh Balotelli, assaulted Mancini, and who knows what would have ensued if it wasn’t for a timely intervention? Now, which manager would want to work with a man who wants a pound of flesh of him?

Secondly, for shooting practice, Balotelli tried to kill a bunch of innocent, youth academy players with darts (tranquilizers, possibly?). At least Joey Barton picks on people his own size.

Thirdly, Balotelli once claimed he is allergic to the pitch. How can a manager possibly live with a player who is allergic to the field he plays on?

Even Adel Taraabt – earlier on our list – believes that Balotelli is truly the Enfant terrible of the footballing world as per Harry Redknapp. Balotelli even has a song to prove it.

And finally, Jose Mourinho’s story at Inter Milan:

“I remember one time when we went to play Kazan in the Champions League. In that match I had all my strikers injured. No Diego Milito, no Samuel Eto’o, I was really in trouble and Mario was the only one. Mario got a yellow card in the 42nd minute, so when I got to the dressing room at half-time I spend about 14 minutes of the 15 available speaking only to Mario.

“I said to him: ‘Mario, I cannot change you, I have no strikers on the bench, so don’t touch anybody and play only with the ball. If we lose the ball no reaction. If someone provokes you, no reaction, if the referee makes a mistake, no reaction.'

“The 46th minute – red card!”