When managers go mental

Eurosport - Mon, 12 Oct 15:58:00 2009

Following Diego Maradona's iconic slide across the turf after Argentina's late winner against Peru, we take a look back at some other eccentric celebrations from managers.

2003-04 Champions League Porto manager Jose mourinho celebrates beating Manchester United - 0

1. 1996 Graeme Souness

As a veteran of many an Old Firm and Merseyside derby, you'd think Souness would appreciate the rather delicate nature of a major city derby. Especially when it is the Istanbul derby. And it is also a cup final. But so it was that, after his Galatasaray side had won their home leg 1-0, Dean Saunders's equaliser earned them a 1-1 draw at Fenerbahce's Sukru Saracoglu stadium and cup victory. Souey in his infinite wisdom decided that rather than sheepishly raising the trophy and getting the hell out of dodge, the best way to celebrate would be to march out on to the pitch and place a huge Galatasaray flag in the centre circle. However, despite the folk hero status he instantly earned for possibly the bravest act in football, a fourth-place league finish saw Souness's Turkish tenure end after just one season.

2. 2006 Alan Pardew

When Marlon Harewood fired past Jens Lehmann in the 89th minute to grab a shock 1-0 win over the Gunners, you could forgive Alan Pardew for getting rather excited. The West Ham boss was jumping around manically and fist-pumping more than most of the Upton Park crowd, out of sheer relief that his team were on the verge of only their third win all season. Arsene Wenger made his displeasure at such an excessive celebration plain, and when Pardew came across to respond a few shoves and some unkind words ensued before they were separated by the fourth official. Wenger was so incensed that he refused to shake hands at the final whistle. However, the result didn't arrest the Hammers' woes, and a month later Pardew was out of a job.

3. 2004 Jose Mourinho

After scoring a vital away goal at Porto, Manchester United looked to be going through to the Champions League quarter-finals on away goals courtesy of Paul Scholes's first-half strike at Old Trafford. That was until Costinha scored in the 90th minute to send Porto through. Porto boss Jose Mourinho (pictured) made himself known to the wider world by sprinting down the touchline to celebrate with his players at the corner flag, and ended up running all the way to Stamford Bridge that summer.

4. 2008 Slaven Bilic

The Croatia manager's joy at reaching Euro 2008 at the expense of England may have been more painful. However, his unrestrained delight when Ivan Klasnic scored against Turkey in the dying moments of extra time in the quarter-finals of the tournament itself was even wilder. Klasnic's goal on 118 minutes sent Bilic haring towards the huddled mass of his team before he repeatedly tried to leap on top of them all, Rio Ferdinand-style. His expression was not quite so delirious when Turkey equalised in stoppage time and won the subsequent penalty shootout though.

5. 1983 David Pleat

He's become the pundit people love to hate, but fans of a certain age will never forget the sight of a beige-suited Pleat running across the turf at Maine Road. Luton Town needed a win on the final day of the 1982-83 season to stay in the First Division, and they got it thanks to a late strike from Radomir Antic that ensured their survival and sent City down. At the final whistle Pleat skipped and leapt across the pitch, hands held up to the heavens like an evangelical priest as he ran to congratulate his players, and sparked a joyous pitch invasion from the visiting fans.

Eurosport

Comment 1 - 18 of 18

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  1. MOURINHO IS THE MAN!!
    THAT CELEBRATION AGAINST MAN UTD­ WAS AWESOME. THE LATEST AGAINST UDINESE WAS FUNNY­ TOO.
    I ALSO REMEMBER HIM SHUTTING UP LIVERPOOL FANS IN­ 2005 CARLING CUP FINAL AND THEN SAYING IT WAS FOR THE­ PRESS. HILARIOUS!!

    From Vítor, on Mon 12 Oct 11:22PM
  2. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    what about benitez pullin down his y fronys and pullin­ on his bajoo string at the kop end

    From anto, on Mon 12 Oct 8:02PM
  3. How could you leave out Mourinho's latest? Sneijder­ last-gasp goal against Udinese...
    XD

    From HL, on Mon 12 Oct 8:01PM
  4. ummmm....come on.... where is the legendary John Sitton­ of Leyton Orient fame, this guy was definately driven­ mental by his team. I dont know of another manager who­ has sacked players at half time.

    'You can pair up­ and bring your dinner if you like, cos by the time I­ finish with you, your gonna need it!'

    From Nathan, on Mon 12 Oct 7:38PM
  5. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    who cares

    From Clare, on Mon 12 Oct 7:36PM
  6. MOURINHOOOOOO!!!!!!!! along the pitch in front of all­ the cockney mancs, class

    From lard, on Mon 12 Oct 7:21PM
  7. 13 What you are talking about was when there was a­ pitch invasion at a N. Forest game. Cloughie went on to­ the pitch and smacked a couple of Forest fans and told­ them to get off his pitch. Best thing about it was a­ couple of days later the fans he smacked went to­ Forests ground and apologised to cloughie for going on­ his pitch and then he made them kiss him on the cheek!­ Pure class from cloughie

    From prof_paulie, on Mon 12 Oct 7:04PM
  8. Got to be Fergie against City this season, 'bloody­ hell', come on you reds !!!

    From jwkirby, on Mon 12 Oct 6:51PM
  9. My fav was when Clough ran on the pitch an started­ chining the fans.

    From Owen, on Mon 12 Oct 6:24PM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    what about gay ferguson jumpin up chewing his chewing­ gum

    From JANET, on Mon 12 Oct 6:19PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Replay the celebrations in your head/youtube/whatever­ while humming the Rocky (Gotta Fly Now) Theme as a­ soundtrack. Which one works for you? It's Bob for­ me!

    From stevevscott, on Mon 12 Oct 6:03PM
  12. got to agree with m.craig. bob stokoe in slow motion­ comoing off the bench..mr.lyricks

    From kenneth_shenton, on Mon 12 Oct 6:02PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    pegez is a d.ick!

    From Adam, on Mon 12 Oct 5:50PM
  14. There is no competition here, the best has got to be­ Bob Stokoe Sunderland manager at end of 1973 cup final

    From m.craig, on Mon 12 Oct 5:42PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

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    From lucygirl100125, on Mon 12 Oct 5:04PM
  16. what about fergies weird double fisted uppercut dance­ against city the other week

    From Tom, on Mon 12 Oct 4:52PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Mourinho is a d.ick!

    From pegez, on Mon 12 Oct 4:34PM
  18. MOURINHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!­ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From eurosportcommentator, on Mon 12 Oct 4:28PM
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