The greatest managerial rivalries: Clough vs Revie, Ferguson vs Wenger and more

The greatest managerial rivalries: Clough vs Revie, Ferguson vs Wenger and more

Rivalries between managers often generate plenty of debate in professional football.

Most managers have mutual respect for each other, but some are incapable of hiding their disdain for their rivals. Here are some of the greatest managerial head-to-heads.

Brian Clough vs Don Revie

Arsene Wenger vs Jose Mourinho

Jock Stein vs Helenio Herrera

Sir Alex Ferguson vs Arsene Wenger

Pep Guardiola vs Jose Mourinho

Sir Alex Ferguson vs Kevin Keegan

Rafa Benitez vs Sam Allardyce

Sir Alex Ferguson vs Rafa Benitez

Neil Warnock vs Gary Megson

Pep Guardiola vs Jurgen Klopp

Without further ado, read on as we take a United Kingdom-focused look at some of the greatest managerial rivalries of all time.

Brian Clough vs Don Revie

The hatred between Brian Clough and Don Revie ran so deep that it ultimately spawned a movie which sought to shine a light on the reasons behind the bitterness.

Revie turned Leeds United into one of the top teams in the country during the early 1970s, but his methods did not find favour with the wider football world.

The phrase ‘dirty Leeds’ is still part of modern-day football vocabulary, highlighting the depths to which Revie’s teams would stoop to win a game.

When Clough was appointed to replace Revie in 1974, he told the players they should bin their medals because they ‘were not won fairly’.

His comments led to a brutal television interview between the pair where they traded bitter insults at each other.

Clough lasted 44 days at Leeds before being sacked, but ultimately had the last laugh by guiding Nottingham Forest to back-to-back European Cup successes.

Arsene Wenger vs Jose Mourinho

The long-running spat with Arsene Wenger perfectly highlighted Jose Mourinho’s penchant for upsetting people.

Mourinho lost just twice to Wenger in 19 games and was never slow to take a dig at his rival if the opportunity ever arose.

The Portuguese described the Frenchman as a ‘voyeur’ in 2005 after he questioned Chelsea’s extravagant transfer policy.

He then famously called Wenger a ‘specialist in failure’ in 2014, pinpointing the club’s nine-year trophy drought as the reason for his criticism.

Mourinho was niggled by Wenger’s failure to mention him in his autobiography, claiming that he was embarrassed that he ‘never beat me’.

The rivalry reached boiling point in 2014 when Wenger pushed Mourinho in the chest during a Premier League game at Stamford Bridge.

Jock Stein vs Helenio Herrera

Helenio Herrera guided Inter Milan to back-to-back European titles in 1964 and 1965. His team were the tactical benchmark for the rest of Europe.

After relinquishing the title in 1966, Inter were on course to regain it the following season. Celtic and Jock Stein stood in their way in the final.

Stein was bullish ahead of the game, telling the press that they would lift the trophy. Herrera refused to engage with the media, but was infuriated by Stein’s comments.

Inter took an early lead from the penalty spot, and their no-nonsense defensive style subsequently enraged Stein. He snapped at half-time.

The Celtic boss launched a verbal tirade at the referee before confronting Herrera. The pair almost came to blows and Stein used the incident to fuel a memorable comeback.

Celtic not only became the first British team to win the European Cup, but Stein also helped to break the perception that Italian teams were unbeatable.

Sir Alex Ferguson vs Arsene Wenger

The rivalry between Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger had all the ingredients you would expect from two hugely successful managers.

When factoring in the bitter animosity between the two sets of players, it was no surprise that this head-to-head reached new heights of unpleasantness.

The Battle of Old Trafford, when Arsenal’s players manhandled Ruud van Nistelrooy after the final whistle, was one of the highlight reel encounters.

Roy Keane offering Patrick Vieira outside during a legendary row in the Highbury tunnel also epitomised the fractious relationship between Manchester United and Arsenal.

Underpinning the rivalry was a managerial feud that regularly bubbled over, but still maintained a grudging level of mutual respect.

Ferguson undoubtedly had the upper hand over Wenger, with his time in charge representing the most dominant era ever in English football.

Pep Guardiola vs Jose Mourinho

Many people believe that Mourinho could start a fight in an empty room if he put his mind to it, and he probably wouldn’t argue with that assessment.

After a couple of low-key jousts over the previous couple of years, the rivalry between Mourinho and Pep Guardiola exploded in 2010.

When Mourinho was appointed as Real Madrid manager, he made no secret about his desire to knock Guardiola’s Barcelona off their perch.

Guardiola took exception to accusations by Mourinho that match officials favoured his teams. The Portuguese continued to push his buttons.

Madrid and Barcelona engaged in several ugly encounters over the next couple of years, triggered in no small part by the antics of their managers.

Mourinho ultimately won the La Liga title in his second season with the club, but Guardiola has largely held the upper hand in their overall rivalry.

Sir Alex Ferguson vs Kevin Keegan

Newcastle United’s dramatic collapse in the 1995/96 Premier League title race sparked plenty of amusement amongst fans of rival clubs.

The Magpies earned plenty of plaudits for their style of football under manager Kevin Keegan, but they ultimately failed to blow a 12-point lead.

Keegan’s meltdown on Sky Sports is one of the most iconic moments in football, and highlighted how Ferguson was adept at getting under people’s skin.

The Red Devils’ 1-0 victory at St James’ Park in March 1996 can be pinpointed as the moment when the tide turned against Newcastle.

Ferguson used the media to his advantage and Keegan crumbled, casting doubt in his players’ minds at a crucial point...

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →