The top five manager v opposition player touchline spats might also be referred to as the top five player v opposition manager spats, depending on how you see it.
They are of course in dubious honour of former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson and his bizarre grasping of James McArthur’s neck…
Nigel Pearson, manager/wrestler https://t.co/VdARaJJ7VU
— Coral (@Coral) February 7, 2015
MORE PEARSON:
- The best Pearson choke jokes after McArthur encounter
- The best Nigel Pearson sacked jokes as odds slashed
- The best Nigel Pearson not sacked jokes after Leicester statement
Now, here are five more manager v opposition player touchline spats! Take it away, warring factions…
Alan Pardew v David Meyler
The then Newcastle United manager was handed a record seven-match touchline ban after this ill-advised head butt…
Sam Allardyce v Chico Flores
Big Sam was most amused by the erstwhile Swansea defender’s attempts at feigning injury…
Garry Monk v Ryan Bertrand
Speaking of Swansea, they were involved more recently when their managerial Monk had a heated exchange with the Southampton left-back, who’d just been sent off for a dreadful tackle on Modou Barrow forced off on a stretcher.
Monk said: “I thought it was a bad tackle. I just said how do you think you can win that ball from the side or behind?”
Jamie Hammill v Derek Adams
Hearts defender Hamill celebrated a goal against Ross County by barging into their manager Derek Adams and flooring him, for which he was shown a red card.
Norbert Meier vs Albert Streit
While coach of MSV Duisburg in 2005, Meier was arguing with Köln midfielder Streit when he suddenly fell down, causing Streit to be sent off.
Replays revealed that it was in fact Meier who had head butted Streit a headbutt, and he was dismissed as Duisburg manager two days later.
The German FA banned him for three months from any management activities.
Honourable mention: Gennaro Gattuso vs Joe Jordan
Honourable insofar as Joe Jordan was assistant manager to Harry Redknapp at the time, but this incident from Tottenham Hotspur’s Champions League clash with AC Milan is nonetheless worthy of inclusion…