Messi v Enrique: The top six manager v player bust-ups

Luis Enrique - not on Messi's Christmas card list

With Barcelona in meltdown, head coach Luis Enrique has evidently ignored rules one, two and three for managing the Catalan giants: Don't fall out with Lionel Messi. Stephen Tudor goes ringside to enjoy six other tussles between gaffer and player...

1) Mick McCarthy v Roy Keane 

Stinging criticism from their captain of the Irish preparations for the 2002 World Cup led to Mick McCarthy calling a clear-the-air meeting at their base in Saipan. With the entire squad present it's safe to say whatever McCarthy's intentions were went hopelessly awry as Keane unleashed a 10-minute tirade of biblical proportions. From the many quotes that have now entered folklore our favourite remains: "You can stick your World Cup up your arse."

2) Trevor Francis v Martin Allen

In a Newcastle hotel room in 1989 the night before a game QPR midfielder Martin Allen received a 2am phone call to inform him his wife had gone into labour. After gaining permission from assistant manager Peter Shreeves the player nicknamed 'Mad Dog' duly raced to the airport to arrive back in the capital with hours to spare. Training the following Monday was a happy affair. Fending off congratulations from his team-mates the proud new father threw himself into every challenge with typical gusto. That was until gaffer Francis approached with an envelope containing a fine of two weeks' wages. Stone cold. 

3) Dorival Junior vs Neymar

In an ominous foreboding for Luis Enrique on the danger of star power another of his Barcelona charges Neymar saw off his boss at Santos in 2010 following a breakdown in relations. In a league clash against Atletico Goianiense the teenage superstar was somewhat peeved to be overlooked as a penalty taker and his petulant reaction was as poorly thought-out as his hairstyle, turning his back on the subsequent spot-kick before being restrained by a linesman as he aggressively approached the dug-out. Knowing he was merely a pawn to Neymar's king, the coach walked before he was pushed. 

4) Roberto Mancini vs Carlos Tevez

Two iron-clad egos and one barmy night in Munich resulted in a memorable bust-up on the bench that still shocks three years after the event. A goal down in a critical Champions League encounter the Manchester City coach turned to his Argentinean hit-man and ordered him to warm up. Tevez's refusal to shift his generous backside from the heated leather chair led to a dust-up that briefly split the club in two and allowed the striker to play golf for the next few months on 'gardening leave'. 

5) Raymond Domenech v Nicolas Anelka

Or, more accurately, Domenech v the entire French squad. After sending 'Le Sulk' packing from the 2010 World Cup for a half-time spat the veteran coach then endured a public and humiliating mutiny from his players during the following day's training session. Led by captain and chief agitator Patrice Evra the squad boarded a bus and refused to practise leaving Domenech to pick up the cones and mentally draft his resignation letter. Ruling out any hope of a future reconciliation his consequent book described the dissenters as 'a bunch of imbeciles'. 

6) Ruud Gullit v Alan Shearer/Robert Lee

Falling out with Lee wasn't the shrewdest move by the dreadlocked Dutchman considering the midfielder was best mates with Wor Alan, god of all Geordies and goal-scorer supreme. When Gullit then benched the undroppable legend - for a north-east derby with Sunderland no less - in favour of a debutant kid the game was royally up. The team-sheet he handed in may as well have been a suicide note.

 

***

You've seen Stephen's top six, now let us know your favourite player v manager bust-up by commenting below or tweeting @Betfair...

Where next for Leo?

Betfair has opened a market on Lionel Messi's possible next destination, with Chelsea at 5/1 favourites. Luke Moore has taken a look at where the superstar may end up