Mick McCarthy and the 10 Funniest Manager Quotes

We already knew that Mick McCarthy was the most GIF-friendly man in world football, but the Ipswich manager has reminded us of his penchant for brilliant quotes this week. 

Speaking after a 1-1 draw at Leeds United on Tuesday, the former Republic of Ireland player and manager dropped a delightful soundbite to reporters, per Glenn Ebrey of the Croydon Advertiser: "Some people might be frustrated with that result? Some people can f*** off."

McCarthy's nuanced use of the English language leads our list of the funniest managerial quotes in history.

Ian Holloway's 'Pulling' Analogy

We could be here all day listing the hilarious quotes that Ian Holloway has given over the years, but his finest moment may have been the "ugly win" analogy he gave after a victory over Chesterfield while at QPR: 

"

To put it in gentleman's terms, if you've been out for a night and you're looking for a young lady and you pull one, some weeks they're good looking and some weeks they're not the best.

Our performance today would have been not the best looking bird, but at least we got her in the taxi. She wasn't the best looking lady we ended up taking home, but she was very pleasant and very nice, so thanks very much, let's have a coffee. 

"

Brian Clough's Modesty

Getty Images/Getty Images

Brian Clough was no stranger to controversy throughout his successful managerial career, and some of his responses to journalists' questions showed the kind of wit that Jose Mourinho wishes he could have.

His approach to dealing with disagreeable players ("We talk about it for 20 minutes and then we decide I was right") and his complaints over foreign players ("I can't even spell spaghetti never mind talk Italian. How could I tell an Italian to get the ball? He might grab mine") are classic, but his most famous quote may be his least modest.

Per the Daily Mail:

"I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the business. But I was in the top one."

He was called "Old Big Ead" for a reason! 

Sir Bobby Robson's Linguistic Confusion

Tom Shaw/Getty Images

Sir Bobby Robson was a legendary manager, unanimously loved by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him. He also had a unique way with words, per Who Ate All The Pies:

"

I would have given my right arm to be a pianist.

We’re flying on Concorde. That’ll shorten the distance. That’s self-explanatory.

If you count your chickens before they’ve hatched, they won’t lay an egg.

Look at those olive trees! They’re 200 years old – from before the time of Christ.

"

These quotes just make you miss him even more. 

Kevin Keegan's Rant

Never has the strain of a Premier League title race been more apparent than in Kevin Keegan's rant at Sir Alex Ferguson in the 1995-96 season. 

The cracks in the Newcastle manager's patience and sanity were on show, helping the Toon Army cede a 12-point lead to the Red Devils. 

Sir Alex Ferguson's Italian Scepticism

Harold Cunningham/Getty Images

Sir Alex Ferguson has some fantastic quotes in his arsenal, such as his (inaccurate) opinion of Juan Sebastian Veron ("I'm not f*****g talking to you. He's a f*****g great player. You are f*****g idiots") and his jibe at Filippo Inzaghi ("That lad must have been born offside"), but his general distrust of Italians is pretty scathing.

Per The Guardian:

"When an Italian tells me it's pasta on the plate, I check under the sauce to make sure. They are the inventors of the smokescreen." 

Jose Mourinho Is 'The Special One'

Arriving in England fresh from a European Cup win with Porto, Jose Mourinho cemented his status as a one-man press-conference quote machine with his declaration that he is "The Special One." 

Mourinho also deserves an honourable mention for his bizarre "eggs" speech.

Mick McCarthy's World Cup Commentary

Mick McCarthy makes it back into our list for giving his unfiltered opinion of Serbia's goalkeeper during their group stage match with Germany at the 2010 World Cup.

Bill Shankly's Everton Taunts

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Bill Shankly is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers ever to grace the game. He endeared himself to the Anfield faithful, not just because of his trophy haul, but because of his unbridled trash talk about city rivals Everton.

Per the Daily Mail:

"

If Everton were playing down the bottom of my garden, I'd draw the curtains.

When I've got nothing better to do, I look down the league table to see how Everton are getting along.

This city has two great teams—Liverpool and Liverpool reserves. 

"

Gordon Strachan's Sarcasm

Mark Runnacles/Getty Images

The Daily Mirror have compiled some comic gems that Scotland manager Gordon Strachan has imparted to journalists over the years, but this might be our favourite:

"

Reporter: "So, Gordon, in what areas do you think Middlesbrough were better than you today?" 

Strachan: "What areas? Mainly that big green one out there."

"

John Lambie's Concussion Sympathy

Getty Images/Getty Images

When Partick Thistle manager John Lambie was told that his player Colin McGlashan did not know who he was after picking up a concussion, he uttered the immortal line: "That's great, tell him he's Pele and get him back out there!"

The quote even became the title of a book of amusing one-liners from world football. 

Follow Ryan Bailey on Twitter