Football’s Quarrels and Feuds, Part Seventeen

1- Louis van Gaal and Johann Cruyff

Louis van Gaal and Johann Cruyff had a contentious relationship through the years.

Many believe the root of the problems started in 1989. Cruyff was hosting a Christmas dinner with van Gaal among the guests.

During the dinner, van Gaal received a phone call from his family informing him that his sister had passed away and he was forced to leave abruptly.

Allegedly Cruyff blamed him for not having thanked him for the dinner before leaving.

Cruyff denied this version and called it nonsense. He even said that if van Gaal had said this then he had ‘Alzheimer’s’.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 2, March 1989

(Johann Cruyff)

Photo From: World Soccer, June 1995

(Louis van Gaal)

2- Jackie Charlton and Eamon Dunphy, 1990

Republic of Ireland Manager Jackie Charlton and former player and then journalist Eamon Dunphy got into an argument in a press conference on June 20^th, 1990, the day before Ireland’s crucial match vs. Holland in the World Cup.

Charlton refused to respond to Dunphy’s questions by saying  "You're not allowed to ask a question, you are not a proper journalist.” (he was actually accredited)

He furthermore stated "These lads here (the other sport journalists) are interested in football... you're not. I'm not answering your questions.”

Dunphy had been one of the critical voices of Ireland’s style of play. 

Photo From: World Soccer, August 1990

(Jackie Charlton)

 Photo From: Gifted in Green, Author: Adam Ward ,1999

(Eamon Dunphy)

3- Jean-Claude Suaudeau and Marcelo Lippi, 1996

After Nantes’ elimination from the Champions League Semifinals at the hands of Juventus in April 1996, Nantes Manager attacked his Juventus counterpart Marcelo Lippi for the alleged gamesmanship used by Juventus players. 

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 87, April 1996

(Marcelo Lippi)

Photo From: Panini, France 1986/87

(Nantes Manager Jean-Claude Suaudeau)

4- Kevin Keegan and Alex Ferguson, 1996

Newcastle United Manager Kevin Keegan had his famous meltdown on Television responding to criticisms by Manchester United Manager Alex Ferguson in the run-up for the 1995/96 English Premier League title.

Photo From: Goal, Issue 18, March 1997

(Kevin Keegan)

Photo From: Goal, Issue 13, October 1996

(Sir Alex Ferguson)

5- Enzo Bearzot and Italo Allodi, 1979

In early 1979, Italy’s head of National Coaching Centre at Coverciano, Italo Allodi recommended that Italian National Team Manager Enzo Bearzot should not be awarded ‘Seminatore d’Oro’ (Golden Sower) for the success of the 1978 World Cup.

According to Allodi, Bearzot had not sown the players at National Team level but reaped from the work of others. He felt he should instead just be given a golden plaque.

An angry Bearzot turned down this offer and said it was impossible to work with ‘a brutus at my back’.

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 27, February 2000

(Italo Allodi and Enzo Bearzot)