Neil Warnock’s best quotes, anecdotes and funny video highlights
Neil Warnock was typically frank in his post match interview following QPR's 1-1 draw with Aston Villa this weekend.
Warnock described referee Mike Oliver's failure to spot a handball by Villa defender Alan Hutton as "embarrassing" and accused his own player, Armand Traore, of being an "absolute disgrace" for his late dismissal.
The 62 year-old Yorkshireman's honesty over the years has made him the managerial answer to marmite; you either love him or hate him.
Here at talkSPORT we love the passion he has brought back to the top flight, and here are some classic examples…
BEST QUOTES
ON GRAHAM POLL
Following Sheffield United's 1-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal in 2003, referee Graham Poll bears the brunt of Warnock's frustration:
"I shouldn't really say what I feel, but Poll was their best midfielder in the goal. You saw him coming off at half-time and at the end. He smiled so much, he obviously enjoyed that performance. I think the referee should be banned."
ON DAVID ELLERAY
Warnock bemoans David Elleray's performance as Sheffield United crash out of the 2001 FA Cup at Southampton:
"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."
ON THE BATTLE OF BRAMALL LANE
In March 2002, Warnock is accused of encouraging his players to feign injury in a league game between Sheffield United and West Brom, which is abandoned when only six United players are left on the field:
"The way it has all come out so far, you would think I was guilty of committing more crimes than Osama Bin Laden."
ON THE OLYMPICS
Warnock reveals the inspiration behind Sheffield United 2-0 win over Leeds in October 2004:
"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."
ON PADDY KENNY
In December 2004, Neil explains how he would have dealt with a tunnel bust-up involving Paddy Kenny and Kevin Muscat:
"Paddy has a balloon on his forehead like you have never seen. If somebody headbutted me like somebody has headbutted Kenny, then I would chin him."
ON JOSE MOURINHO
Warnock reveals why his wife, Sharon, is looking forward to life in the Premier League following promotion with Sheffield United:
"My wife will be glad about Mourinho coming to Bramall Lane because he's a good looking swine, isn't he?"
ON RIVAL MANAGERS
Neil doesn't hold back when talking about his rivals:
"The two managers I really dislike are Stan Ternent and Gary Megson. The old saying that I wouldn't p**s on them if they were on fire applies"
ON EL-HADJI DIOUF
In January 2011, former Blackburn forward El-Hadji Diouf riles Warnock after abusing QPR's Jamie Mackie as the Scottish international lays on the floor in agony with a broken leg:
"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."
ON CLINT HILL
Warnock gets stuck into Clint Hill for QPR's 2-0 defeat to Milwall:
“The first goal, one header from a header and the kid’s through on goal. It’s Raggy A*** Rovers. For the second one, when have you seen Clint Hill mess about like that? He thought he was Jose Enrique or someone."
ON ADEL TAARABT
As rumours about QPR captain Adel Taarabt's future intensify, Warnock is refreshingly frank on the topic:
"I'll probably have had enough of him by Christmas, so hopefully he'll score ten or 15 goals by then and get himself a move."
ON Stephen Hunt
Reading's former Irish international provokes a nonsensical post-match comment following a fiery Premier League game in January 2007:
"Hunt has proved on a few occasions that he's a clever type, and his challenge on Nick Montgomery earlier in the game wasn't clever either."
ON NORWICH
The Canaries' favourable schedule in the 2010/11 Championship run-in gets the Yorkshireman's goat:
"They must know somebody at the Football League, Norwich, getting their fixtures like they have. Poor old Dave Jones [former Cardiff City manager] was moaning about it the other day, I think Delia Smith must be cooking something for them."
ON RIVAL MANAGERS
Neil concedes his regret at never getting a shot with a top side after admitting he turned down the chance to manage Chelsea in 1991:
"It bugs me when I see other managers getting top jobs and I know they're not as good as me."
ON PHIL THOMPSON
He remembers a touchline dispute with Phil Thompson during the 2003 League Cup semi-final between Sheffield United and Liverpool:
“You can f*** off Pinocchio,” I said. “Get back in your f****** cupboard.”
ON STAN TERNENT
When former Burnley boss Stan Ternent brought his Clarets to Bramall Lane is 2001, all hell broke loose:
"I had always known Stan Ternent was a d***head but when Sheffield United played Burnley in 2001 he behaved like a deranged lunatic. I’d told my assistant Kevin Blackwell to keep an eye on Ternent. I knew he’d be trying to put pressure on the ref. So when Ternent came round the corner, frothing at the mouth, Blackie told him to leave it out. That was all the encouragement Ternent needed. He launched himself at Blackie and butted him. Blackwell swung a right hook and smacked him on the nose. He sploshed him good and proper. In Ternent’s autobiography he tells how he gave Blackwell a good hiding. But we saw the incident differently. Blackie had a little cut on his lip. Ternent was in bits."
ON SEAN BEAN
After Sheffield United were relegated from the Premier League in 2007, Warnock described a post-match incident involving Hollywood actor and United fan Sean Bean:
"He wanted to know where I was. Sharon [Warnock's wife] told him I was doing a Press conference and I’d be back soon. So Sean Bean started swearing at her and my five-year-old son. It’s your f****** husband that got us relegated, he’s a f****** w*****. That’s Sean Bean, the tough guy actor. Some kind of tough guy, eh, reducing a five-year-old kid and his mum to tears."
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
GIVING HIS HUDDERSFIELD PLAYERS A HALF-TIME TALKING TO (contains swearing)
SLATING A REFEREE AT SHEFFIELD UNITED
BERATING A LINESMAN AT SHEFFIELD UNITED
LAYING INTO EL-HADJI DIOUF
CONGRATULATING HIS QPR PLAYERS ON WINNING PROMOTION
SHOWING ADEL TAARABT WHO'S BOSS AFTER WINNING PROMOTION
What do you make of QPR boss Neil Warnock? Does he annoy you or are you a fan of his passion and honesty? Let us know by leaving a comment below...