Top 7 Managerial Touchline Controversies
Louis van Gaal delighted meme-makers everywhere on Sunday when he threw himself to the floor while protesting a decision with fourth official Mike Dean during Manchester United's 3-2 win over Arsenal.
Coming a matter of hours before the 2016 Oscars ceremony took place in Hollywood, Van Gaal's dramatics inspired a number of amusing parodies.
"Sorry Leo, this is who should have won Best Actor... #Oscars pic.twitter.com/kyw0QIYk5P
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) February 29, 2016"
But the Dutchman isn't the first manager to draw attention with his touchline antics.
Here, we look at some of football's serial offenders, and a number of their occasionally amusing, often controversial theatrics.
Alan Pardew Headbutts David Meyler
1 of 7
Then-Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew caused outrage in March 2014 when he headbutted Hull City midfielder David Meyler during a game at the KC Stadium.
Pardew's aggressive response came after Meyler had pushed him out of the way while chasing a ball that had gone out of play.
The current Crystal Palace boss was later handed a £60,000 fine and seven-game ban by the Football Association, the longest handed to a manager in Premier League history, while he received an additional £100,00 fine from Newcastle.
Arsene Wenger Pushes Jose Mourinho
2 of 7
These two never got along.
Jose Mourinho's Chelsea were playing Arsene Wenger's Arsenal in a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge in October 2014 when the pair shared their most physical confrontation.
The incident occurred when the Frenchman reacted strongly to a challenge by Gary Cahill on Alexis Sanchez.
Mourinho leapt to his player's defence, prompting Wenger to push the Portuguese in the chest. The fourth official quickly stepped in to separate the pair.
Wenger later apologised for his actions, telling TF1's Telefoot programme (via the Telegraph): "In hindsight I think I should not have reacted at all, it’s not a way to behave on a football field. I always regret any signs of violence and I apologise, but that’s a part of games where everything is manic."
Jose Mourinho Pokes Tito Vilanova in the Eye
3 of 7As Arsene Wenger (and many others) will gladly testify, Jose Mourinho is no saint himself.
Barcelona vs. Real Madrid games have always been spicy affairs, but they seemed to take on an extra intensity when Mourinho took charge of Los Blancos in 2010.
The rivalry arguably peaked in August 2011, when the sides clashed in a Spanish Super Cup game at the Camp Nou.
The home side led 3-2 as the game approached its climax, when Real defender Marcelo clattered Barca midfielder Cesc Fabregas with a crunching late tackle.
That prompted an ugly confrontation between players and coaches from both sides, in which Mourinho could be seen approaching Barca assistant Tito Vilanova from behind and sticking his finger in the Spaniard's eye.
Not cool, Jose, not cool.
Roger Schmidt Refuses to Leave After Being Sent off
4 of 7
Play between Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund was halted for 10 minutes on February 21 when the referee left the pitch after Leverkusen manager Roger Schmidt refused to leave the touchline.
The German boss had received his marching orders after protesting a decision on the pitch, before stubbornly declining to relocate to the stands.
That prompted match official Felix Zwayer to suspend the game until Schmidt eventually obliged.
Leverkusen fans may have wished the game never recommenced, as a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal secured the visitors a 1-0 win.
Nigel Pearson 'Strangles' James McArthur
5 of 7
This bizarre incident occurred during Crystal Palace's 1-0 win over Leicester City in February 2015.
It all started when Palace midfielder James McArthur bundled into Leicester manager Nigel Pearson while he stood on the sideline during the match at the King Power Stadium.
The collision was completely unavoidable on McArthur's part, but that didn't stop Pearson responding by pinning the midfielder to the floor by the throat. Eventually the Foxes boss released his floored foe, before holding onto his sleeve for no apparent reason as he tried to re-enter the pitch.
The whole scenario was made all the more surreal by the awkward smiles worn by the pair throughout, suggesting neither of them really knew what was going on.
That might have contributed to Pearson avoiding any retrospective punishment from the FA, as the match officials stood by their on-field decision to take no action.
Arsene Wenger Sent off for Kicking a Water Bottle
6 of 7
Arsene Wenger earns his second mention on our list after being sent to the stands for kicking a water bottle at Old Trafford in 2009.
The controversy started when Robin van Persie had a last-minute equaliser ruled out for offside, prompting Wenger to take his frustration out on a bottle sitting on the touchline.
The Frenchman was swiftly sent to the stands by referee Mike Dean, leading to the now famous photo of the Gunners boss stood, arms outstretched, in front of a large crowd of gleeful United fans. Iconic.
Jose Mourinho Slams Eva Carneiro
7 of 7
Jose Mourinho completes our list with an incident that is still to be totally resolved.
Chelsea were facing Swansea City at Stamford Bridge on the opening day of the 2015/16 season, when Eden Hazard went down injured with the game level in added time and the Blues already down to 10 men after Thibaut Courtois' red card.
As the seconds ticked by and the match approached a draw, club doctor Eva Carneiro ran onto the pitch to treat the seemingly hurt player.
That infuriated Mourinho, who didn't believe Hazard was seriously injured, and he shouted angrily at Carneiro as she returned to her place on the bench.
"I wasn’t happy with them [the medical team] because even if you are a medical doctor or secretary on the bench, you have to understand the game," he said after the match, per the Guardian.
Carneiro was removed from bench duties after the game, before leaving the club six weeks later. She began legal proceedings against Chelsea for constructive dismissal in October, per MailOnline, with the case yet to be fully resolved.
