Richie Wellens had a big rant about his Leyton Orient team on Saturday after they secured their League One status, saying amongst other things, “Clap the fans because they’ve earned it. They’ve paid their money all season to come and watch us home and away, and they deserve to be clapped. But then don’t be celebrating with your family. Get off the pitch, it’s been an embarrassing season.”
Following Wellen’s outburst, we take a look back five greatest manager rants that took many by surprise.
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Top Five Greatest Manager Rants
Kevin Keegan
The Newcastle manager allowed Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson to use his famous mind games on him as the battle for the title began to slip away from the Magpies. The Red Devils headed into the final game of the season needing just a point after Newcastle had blown a 12-point advantage and Keegan finally lost his cool.
“I will love it if we beat them. Love it. It really has got to me. I’ve voiced it live, not to the press or anything, I’m not even going to the press conference. But the battle’s still on, and Man United have not won this yet.”
Rafa Benitez
Alex Ferguson was back to his mind trick games again, this time with Liverpool’s Rafa Benitez, and once again it worked.
The Reds were sitting top of the league during the 2008/09 season when Benitez, during his pre-match press conference, decided to make it all about Ferguson and his conduct with referees going unpunished, delivering what he called ‘facts’.
“You can see every single week how they put [referees] under pressure, we know this. We have seen it before. We have seen players sent off at Old Trafford and we do not see our opponents sent off. It is part of the game. But to complain and to always have an advantage is not fair.
“We had a meeting in Manchester with managers and FA about the Respect campaign. And I was very clear, forget the campaign because Mr Ferguson was killing the referees, killing Mr Atkinson, killing Mr Hackett. But he is not punished. How can you talk about the respect campaign and criticise the referee every single week? You can analyse the facts and come to your own decision and ideas.”
Manchester United would go and win the title.
Joe Kinnear
The new Newcastle boss was not a happy man after just a few days in the Magpie hotseat. An explicit rant in a press conference aimed at journalists showed he was already under pressure
“Which one is Simon Bird?”
Bird, a Daily Mirror journalist: “Me.”
Kinnear: “You’re a ****.”
Bird: “Thank you.”
Kinnear: Which one is [Niall] Hickman [Daily Express]? You are out of order. Absolutely ******* out of order. If you do it again, I am telling you you can **** off and go to another ground. I will not come and stand for that ****** ****. No ****** way, lies. **** you’re saying I turned up and they ****** off.
Jim McLean
Legendary Dundee United manager and chairman Jim McLean was attending a press conference following his team’s 4-0 home defeat by Hearts when a reporter angered McLean with his questions, calling them “stupid”.
He proceeded to go behind the camera and assaulted the reporter, causing a cut lip. The known disciplinarian apologised immediately; however, he was charged with assault, but did not face criminal proceedings. He left the club soon after the incident.
Antonio Conte
The then Tottenham boss went on a big rant about his players and the club’s ownership, insisting things must change if they are to be successful following a 3-3 draw at Southampton. He said:
“Tottenham’s story is this – 20 years there is this owner and they never won something. Why?.
“The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stay here?. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench. You risk to disrupt the figure of the manager and to protect the other situation in every moment.
“Until now I try to hide the situation but not now because, I repeat, I don’t want to see what I have seen today because this is unacceptable and also unacceptable for the fans.”
“Not only the club, the manager and the staff. The players have to be involved in this situation because it is time to change this situation if Tottenham want to change.
“If they want to continue in this way, they can change the manager, a lot of managers, but the situation cannot change. Believe me.
Around a week later, it was announced that Conte had left the club.
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From the five greatest manager rants here, which one is your favourite? Or is there one not listed here?
Featured image courtesy of SmartFrame/Zuma Press
