Bobby Gould (left) during his time in charge at Coventry City (Photo via)
On 3rd March 1983, Bristol Rovers manager Bobby Gould took the executive decision to fine himself £200.
Some weeks before, he’d taken what we will politely describe as “strong verbal exception” to the decisions made by the referee in a game against Bradford City. He later described his actions as “mouthing off” – Gobby Gould if you like – and made himself accountable by stinging himself for a couple of hundred quid.
What he said is still shrouded in mystery, but the story prompted us to dig out some of our favourite managerial rants of yesteryear.
1. Joseph Patrick Kinnear
Big Joe didn’t take kindly to press reports that he’d failed to turn up for training on his first day in charge at Newcastle United in 2008.
Opening up his maiden press conference, he chastised one reporter (Simon Bird of the Daily Mirror): “You’re a c**t. You are out of order. Absolutely f**king out of order. If you do it again, I’m telling you, you can f**k and go to another ground. I will not come and stand for that f**king crap. No f**king way. Lies.”
Here’s the marvellous rant in full. Given that Joe reels off 52 expletives in little over five minutes, consider this your INDUSTRIAL LANGUAGE warning…
Glorious(-ish).
2. Arsene Wenger
It’s been shown a thousand times, but in these carefully media-managed times there’s something refreshing about Arsene taking out his anger on an innocent bottle of Evian after Tottenham stormed back from two goals down to win the derby 3-2 at the Emirates in 2010.
Wenger has something of a reputation for water bottle abuse, having previously been sent-off after kicking a water bottle (pictured above) at Old Trafford.
3. Paolo Di Canio
Madder than a box of frogs at the best of times, Di Canio reached peak Di Canio during his time in charge at Swindon when he became embroiled in a physical altercation with one of his own players.
In the immediate aftermath of a 3-1 defeat against Southampton, striker Leon Clarke got into an argument with one of Swindon’s fitness coaches.
Di Canio intervened and attempted to shepherd Clarke down the tunnel by tugging his shirt – a move that didn’t go down very well at all…
Apparently, Clarke then left the ground immediately while still wearing his kit and Di Canio failed to appear for his post-match press conference.
Di Canio eventually broke his silence to vow that Clarke would never play for Swindon again. He was right.
4. Giovanni Trapattoni
The man who once banned the Ireland squad from eating mushrooms delivered one of the finest press conference rants in football history while manning the helm at Bayern Munich back in 1998.
The Italian flew into a swivel-eyed rage as he famously accused his players of being “weak like empty plastic bottles”.
What made Trap’s deluge of rage all the more impressive is that he conducted the whole thing in his second language.
5. John Sitton
The immortal…
Suggested further reading…
Joe Kinnear’s 10 Finest Accomplishments As Newcastle Director Of Football