Neil Warnock's best quotes as Middlesbrough boss takes charge of 1,500th game in football management
Neil Warnock will take charge of his 1,500th game as a manager on Saturday and the Yorkshireman has never been short of a word or two.
The 71-year-old Yorkshireman will join an exclusive club when he sends Middlesbrough into Sky Bet Championship battle with Barnsley at the Riverside Stadium, becoming only the seventh man to reach that landmark with British clubs.
The list, which includes Graham Turner, Alec Stock, Willie Maley, Dario Gradi, and Fred Everiss, is headed by Sir Alex Ferguson and while he may have plied his trade largely in a different arena to the all-conquering former Manchester United boss, he is thrilled to be among such company.
Warnock, who is back at work after contracting coronavirus, said: “Alex has done it from a different perspective. I’ve managed to enjoy what I do at a lesser level.
“All I wanted to do when I set out was wherever I went, I wanted the club’s fans to enjoy having me and I wanted them after a match to go home talking about the game and the excitement and the team that they support, and I’ve managed to do that, really.
Scroll down for the pick of his most memorable quotes
“I’ve always said, ‘Be careful what you wish for’ – some of these clubs, when I’ve left, they haven’t always done really well.
“But to be appreciated by your own fans is a great, great accolade. Even the people who give me stick – like when I went to Cardiff, the number of people who said, ‘Well if I’m honest, I’ve never liked you, we didn’t want you here, but I’m glad you’re here’.
“That sort of compliment, I really do enjoy that and appreciate that.”
Warnock's managerial record
- Played: 1,499
- Won: 583 (39%)
- Drawn: 422 (28%)
- Lost: 494 (33%)
- Goals for: 1,946
- Goals against: 1,821
It all started for Warnock, who had cut his teeth at non-league level with Gainsborough Trinity, at Scarborough, who he guided into the Football League as Conference champions in 1987.
As well as revelling in the back-handed compliments which have fuelled his career, Warnock also holds the record for the most promotions in English football with an impressive eight and he is at 9/1 with Sky Bet to achieve another with Middlesbrough in 20/21.
In all, he has managed 14 different league clubs – Scarborough, Notts County, Torquay, Huddersfield, Plymouth, Oldham, Bury, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, QPR, Leeds, Rotherham, Cardiff and Boro.
Here is a look at some of Warnock's more colourful quotes...
Bristol City fans
"When I pass away, I don't want clapping or a minute's silence, I want a minute's booing at Bristol City."
El-Hadji Diouf
"For many years I have thought he was the gutter type - I was going to call him a sewer rat, but that might be insulting to sewer rats. He's the lowest of the low and I can't see him being at Blackburn much longer."
Taking aim at Blackburn forward El-Hadji Diouf after he abused QPR's Jamie Mackie as the Scotland forward lay on the floor in agony with a broken leg.
Warnock's top five clubs as manager (games in charge)
- Sheffield United: 388
- Notts County: 218
- Crystal Palace: 146
- Cardiff City: 144
- Huddersfield: 109
Nuno Espirito Santo
"I don't give a toss what he says. I wont accept his apology, he's totally out of order. In British football you shake the manager's hand and I think it showed a lack of class. I don't think I'll go into my office until after he's gone."
After TV cameras caught his F-word-laden refusal to shake hands with Nuno, Warnock hits out at the Portuguese after the Wolves boss initially failed to partake in the formalities before dashing onto the pitch to celebrate a 1-0 win at Cardiff.
The Battle of Bramall Lane
"The way it has all come out so far, you would think I was guilty of committing more crimes than Osama Bin Laden."
Reacting to the Battle of Bramall Lane in 2002 when he was accused of encouraging his players to feign injury in a game between Sheffield United and West Brom. The game was abandoned as United had only six players left on the field.
Sheffield United selling players
"I remember the day when they sold Brian Deane and Jan Aage Fjortoft. It was like when President Kennedy got shot."
England scoring from a long throw
"I get real pleasure when Sol Bamba texts me and says 'Gaffer, did you see the equaliser in the England game? It was from a long throw!' That's great because there's nothing wrong with a long throw, even though when we do it, people scream we shouldn't be playing football like that. It does make me smile."
Analysis with a smile after Jesse Lingard had scored for England against Croatia this month from Joe Gomez's long throw.
Jose Mourinho
"My wife will be glad about Mourinho coming to Bramall Lane because he's a good looking swine, isn't he?"
Rival managers
"The two managers I really dislike are Stan Ternent and Gary Megson. The old saying that I wouldn't p*** on them if they were on fire applies."
Phil Thompson
"You can f*** off Pinocchio," I said. "Get back in your f****** cupboard."
Recalling a touchline dispute with Phil Thompson during the 2003 League Cup semi-final between Sheffield United and Liverpool.
"I've got to go!"
Huddersfield to Cardiff isn't exactly the shortest journey, and Warnock was eager to get home following their meeting in the Sky Bet Championship. David Wagner's Terriers set up a play-off semi-final meeting with Sheffield Wednesday, and it's clear who Warnock was supporting.
David Elleray
"David Elleray was that far away he would have needed binoculars. I really think it's about time we use the means to sort these things out rather than relying on some bald-headed bloke standing 50 yards away."
Bemoaning the performance of referee David Elleray after Sheffield United lost an FA Cup tie at Southampton in 2001.
Olympics
"I used the Olympics in my team talk. When I went to bed, Kelly Holmes turned me on - which is sad for me isn't it? But when I watched Kelly and the relay lads, their ambition was to aim for the top. Now I think I have a group of lads who should look at themselves and also aim for the top."
Revealing the unusual inspiration behind Sheffield United 2-0 win over Leeds in October 2004.
The Johnsons
"Lee, he is like his dad (former Bristol City manager Gary), he talks a good game, I don't listen to what he says."
The old days
"In those days you could do anything you wanted. I ended up in Darlington Memorial Hospital once when their full-back kneed me and I had a ruptured spleen. They hadn't any beds and put me in a geriatric ward. I remember waking up in the middle of the night and everyone was moaning and screaming. I thought I was in a horror movie."
Students' talks
"One of the most daunting tasks for me was giving a speech in a sixth-form talk. Usually I've got 60,000 watching me, but my heart was beating there in a lecture room. I told them I used to smoke in the toilet and blow it out the window when I was 13."
Odds correct as of 1530 BST on 02/10/20