Horrible Bosses: 5 Amazing Touchline Bust-Ups

With Alan Pardew about to begin his seven-match ban, handed out by the FA for his head-butt on Hull City midfielder David Meyler, it is worth remembering that things can often get heated in the pressure zone that is a coach’s technical area.

It’s not the first time Pardew has found himself embroiled in a touchline scrap, but he is far from alone in letting his emotions get the better of him.

Let’s take a look at few more coaches who should know better.

Jose Mourinho

As someone who enjoys the limelight more than most, it was somewhat inevitable that the occasion of the 2012 Spanish Super Cup ‘El Clasico’ between Real Madrid and Barcelona saw the volatile Portuguese boss cause controversy.

As expected, the game would not pass without incident—after the final whistle, Mourinho was filmed gouging the eye of Barcelona then-assistant and soon-to-be first-team coach Tito Vilanova.

According to Reuters at the time, "During a Super Cup match last season, Mourinho stole up behind Vilanova, who was assistant to Pep Guardiola at the time, and jabbed a finger in his eye."

In an incident that was undoubtedly more serious than Pardew’s, both coaches received Super Cup bans, which were later exonerated.

Perhaps Alan Pardew should consider Spain for his next job.

Joe Jordan

One of the hard men of his playing generation, Joe Jordan has a no-nonsense reputation that is quite well deserved.

It takes a brave man, then, to attempt to head-butt the fiery Scotsman.

That is exactly what Italian midfielder and former Glasgow resident Gennaro Gattuso tried after his Milan side were beaten by Spurs at the San Siro in the 2011/12 Champions League. Jordan was the Spurs assistant manager at the time.

The Italian—who was once accused of punching David Beckham in a separate incident—grabbed the Tottenham coach by the neck and attempted to give him a “Glasgow Kiss” at the final whistle. 

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Roberto Mancini

Back in 2010, when he still had something to shout about, David Moyes and then-Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini almost came to blows after Moyes caught a ball heading out of play.

Assuming the Scotsman to be time-wasting, Mancini ran over to Everton boss Moyes and barged into him, generating an expletive-filled exchange in the process.

This sparked another touchline kerfuffle, after which both managers were sent to the stands. 

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Arsene Wenger

More the victim on this occasion, Alan Pardew became embroiled in a frank exchange with Wenger after the Frenchman took exception to an overzealous goal celebration by the then-West Ham boss.

Wenger, no stranger to a touchline scrap himself, sprang up from his seat and challenged Pardew with a push, setting off an argument between the two that rumbles on to this day.

The animosity was not helped by the Frenchman refusing to shake hands after the final whistle either. Wenger was later to be fined £10,000 by the FA.

Alex Ferguson

In a game that has gone down in Premier League history, Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger engaged in an argument following Manchester United ending Arsenal’s 49-game unbeaten run back in 2004.

Although nothing spectacular by either of these two’s standards, what followed became known forever afterwards as "pizza-gate," where the United boss was caught in the crossfires of a player-led buffet war that included soup and, of course, pizza.

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