Khaberni - In football, emotions are not limited to the players on the green pitch but extend to include the coaches.
Although their role is to provide guidance and tactics, their frayed nerves often lead them to confront referees and explode in anger, consequently resulting in ejections and sitting in the stands.
Among many prominent names in the coaching world, some hold a notorious record of receiving red cards.
Here we showcase the top 5 names in this area, known for their intense sideline emotions:
5. Frenchman Arsène Wenger (3 red cards)
Although he is a calm coach, the veteran Frenchman did not escape expulsion during his long tenure at Arsenal.
One of his most controversial moments was when he kicked a water bottle at Old Trafford, ending up sitting among the fans, regretfully watching the game.
Despite his few ejections, some of his disciplinary sanctions were severe, such as a 12-match suspension due to an altercation with referee Paul Taylor in 2000.
4. Spanish Xavi Hernández (3 red cards)
The Spanish coach was not a troublemaker as a player, but found himself more tense on the Barcelona bench.
Xavi's failure to control his nerves cost him the same number of red cards he received throughout his playing career, reflecting the pressure he faces leading a club the size of Barça.
3. Portuguese André Villas Boas (3 red cards)
Dubbed "the new Mourinho," he indeed followed his mentor’s footsteps in terms of emotions. Despite his relative calm at Chelsea and Tottenham, he was expelled while with Zenit Saint Petersburg, Shanghai SIPG, and most recently with Marseille in 2020 after a heated match against Amiens.
2. Argentine Diego Simeone (7 red cards)
The Atlético Madrid coach embodies a "warrior" persona even off the field, receiving 7 red cards during his extensive coaching career with Los Rojiblancos, making him the second most frequently ejected coach in modern history.
His most recent red card was against Liverpool in the Champions League when he lost his temper in front of the fans and referees.
Simeone always justifies his outbursts with the pressure of the matches, but he remains one of the most controversial coaches on the sideline.
1. Portuguese José Mourinho (9 red cards)
The exceptional Portuguese coach tops the list with his arrogant personality, growing more combative over the years.
During his stint with Roma alone, he received 5 red cards, confirming his status as "the referees' primary nemesis" in Italy.
Scenes of his ejections are repeated wherever he goes, always accompanied by scathing statements in press conferences, making each incident ripe for media coverage.
