After Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini threw a sandwich out of his car window at fans who were insulting him, we look back at some of the other wild responses that Italian tacticians have had, both on the touchline and off it.
A group of Milan supporters were hurling insults at Gasperini after Atalanta’s 2-0 defeat at San Siro and he responded by hurling his dinner, impressively managing to aim it through their open car window from his vehicle.
This is Serie A, so the league is no stranger to some wild scenes on the touchline and beyond, as coaches are every bit as passionate as the supporters and players.
Baldini vs. Di Carlo
A classic incident saw Catania coach Silvio Baldini respond to Parma boss Domenico Di Carlo’s critiques on the touchline by aiming a kick at his backside. The irony is that Baldini had been sent off for dissent before booting his opponent up the bum.
Mazzone vs. Atalanta fans
Carletto Mazzone will forever remain in Calcio history for his actions during this epic battle between bitter rivals Brescia and Atalanta. His team was trailing 3-1, when they got it to 3-2 he pledged to the Bergamo crowd that at 3-3 he was coming over there. He was a man of his word, sprinting – as quickly as a man of Mazzone’s age and size could – shaking off desperate attempts to hold him back, to wave his fist and scream Roman insults at them. Zero regrets.
Spalletti vs. Fiorentina fans
Luciano Spalletti is from the Florence area, so when he received abuse from the stands during Napoli’s trip to the Stadio Franchi, he was able to speak the same language as the locals. A supporter took it too far and threw a plastic bottle at him after another attempted a slap.
Rossi vs. Ljajic
There must be something in the air at the Stadio Franchi, because easily the worst incident of coaches losing control was on the Fiorentina bench. Adem Ljajic was substituted, muttered something to his coach Delio Rossi, who spun round and repeatedly slapped his player on the head. Staff and squad tried to protect Ljajic from the onslaught in the dugout and somewhat inevitably Rossi was fired as soon as the game was over.
Cosmi vs. Lazio fans
Serse Cosmi is a Roma supporter through and through, this has never been in doubt. So when he was sent off from the touchline at the Stadio Olimpico as coach of Perugia, he aimed one final ‘Forza Roma!’ at the Lazio supporters behind the dugout.