10 Mad managerial moments starring Fergie, Rafa and Cloughie... but not AVB

By Mirror Football in Mirror Football Blog

Published 15:57 22/02/12

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Andres Villas-Boas' decision to leave out Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard from the Chelsea team that lost 3-1 to Napoli last night was labelled as 'career suicide' by Jamie Redknapp (who also happens to be Frank's cousin, of course).

It's not the first time, and it won't be the last, that a manager has made a decision he has come to regret in hindsight. MirrorFootball's Richard Arrowsmith takes a look at ten other moments of managerial madness...

10) Rafa's decision to axe Alonso
In his quest to return the Premier League title to Liverpool, Rafa Benitez thought it a good idea to dismantle one of the league's most formidable midfield partnerships by basically telling Xabi Alonso he thought Gareth Barry would be better alongside Steven Gerrard. The Spanish playmaker eventually left for Real Madrid, Barry never arrived and Liverpool lumbered with £20m misfit Alberto Aquiliani.
Outcome: It was the beginning of the end for Benitez who was forced out the following season after overseeing Liverpool's worst run in 22 years, which saw them finish seventh.

9) Fergie's decision to retire
Aside from signing Eric (so bad they named him twice) Djemba-Djemba and taking on the so-called Coolmore Mafia over horse stud rights, Fergie hasn't made too many mistakes as United manager. However, his decision to tell the world he would retire at the end of the 2001-02 season saw players lose the fear factor and stumble to a third place finish in the league - their lowest position for 11 years.
Outcome: The old man changed his mind, gradually brought in a new set of younger players who were still scared of him and went on to win five more Premier League titles and a second Champions League.

8) Sven's decision to show Theo the World
Despite claiming he would only take players who had been playing regularly to the 2006 World Cup, Sven Goran Eriksson took a late gamble by calling up untested Theo Walcott - who was yet to play a league game for Arsenal. Senior players were not impressed and Walcott began his journey towards unfulfilled potential by not playing a single minute at the tournament - despite Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney getting injured.
Outcome: It had already been agreed that Eriksson would leave after the World Cup - but the decision was based more on clandestine meetings with fake sheiks and an inability to keep it in his trousers.

7) Ruud's decision to drop Wor Alan
In an effort to assert his managerial authority at Newcastle, Ruud Gullit chose the wrong national treasure to mess with when he dropped Tyneside god Alan Shearer for a derby game against hated rivals Sunderland in 1999. Newcastle lost the game (although they were still level when Shearer was finally introduced) and thousands of furious Geordies let Gullit know the error of his ways.
Outcome: Gullit resigned only three days later, and five days into the new season, while still insisting on telling anyone who will listen that he was right to leave England's talisman out.

6) Steve McLaren's decision to keep the rain from his head
Even worse than assuming that weird Dutch accent while in charge of FC Twente was Steve McLaren's decision to protect his barely there barnet under an umbrella while watching England lose 3-2 at home to Croatia - ending their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008. The extent of his 'Wally with the Brolly' abuse has since led to other managers braving any weather conditions Mother Nature will throw at them.
Outcome: In an emergency meeting, McLaren was removed the next day - making him both the shortest serving England manager to date and, statistically, the worst.

5) Cloughie's decision to take on the entire Leeds side
Upon arriving at Leeds, 'Old Big Ead' himself Brian Clough used his unique style of man management to criticise the previous regime under Don Revie, brand the club's style as effectively illegal and telling players on his first meeting that 'You can all throw your medals in the bin because they were not won fairly'.
Outcome: Unsurprisingly, Clough lost any support he might have had in the dressing room and was consequently sacked within 44 days of accepting the post - having won just one game.

4) Souey's decision to start flag-waving
Graeme Souness was abrasive as a player and it wasn't a personality trait he lost when he moved into management. As well as making many a mistake while being held personally responsible for one of Liverpool's bleakest spells, Souness also acted before thinking as manager of Galatasaray. The Scot's decision to plant a team flag in the centre circle after defeating main rivals Fenerbahce in the Turkey Cup Final almost sparked a mass riot.
Outcome: Souness was sacked at the end of the season for failing to win the league title, although Galatasaray fans still revere the man they call 'Ulubatli Souness' after the war hero who similarly planted a flag at the Siege of Constantinople.

3) Graham Taylor's decision to become a TV star
Graham Taylor's decision to allow a TV camera crew to follow England's 1994 World Cup qualifying campaign will rate as one of the worst PR blunders in football history. A nation of flies on the wall watched Taylor having a very public meltdown while coining his catchphrase "Do I not like that" after Poland scored against England - followed by a foul mouthed tirade when Ronald Koeman escaped a sending off to score in a decisive game against the Netherlands.
Outcome: Taylor was right to tell a linesman 'your mate has just cost me my job'. He ran out of mathematical possibilities in a final game against San Marino, failed to take England to the World Cup and resigned before being labelled a 'turnip' by the tabloids.

2) Glenn's decision to dabble in philosophy
Although Glen Hoddle's win rate with England has only been bettered by Sir Alf Ramsey and Fabio Capello, he was less successful when handling matters off the field. There was omitting Gazza from his World Cup squad, belittling David Beckham, employing a faith healer and revealing dressing room secrets in his autobiography. But, if the FA needed another reason to get rid of him after the 1998 World Cup then Hoddle supplied it with his ill-advised comments on the relationship between disability and reincarnation.
Outcome: A very public witch hunt led to Hoddle's resignation in 1999 - although there has since been criticism concerning his right to freedom of speech and being sacked for non-footballing reasons.

1) Wilko's decision to depose King Eric
Despite winning the First Division title with Leeds in 1992 largely assisted by the genius of maverick Eric Cantona, Howard Wilkinson thought it good business sense to sell the Frenchman to main rivals Manchester United - for the princely sum of 1 million. Leeds only narrowly avoided relegation by finishing 17th the next season while Cantona provided the catalyst for United's ensuing dominance of English football.
Outcome: Wilkinson stayed in charge of a struggling Leeds for a further four years before having his contract terminated following a 4-0 home defeat in 1997 to, you guessed it, Manchester United.

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