The Premier League’s greatest ever touchline feuds after Tuchel and Conte’s handshake bust-up

Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte were both sent off after two physical clashes during Tottenham’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

At the final whistle, the two squared up following their post-match handshake, but it is not the first time managers have come close to blows on the touchline in the Premier League in recent years.

There seems to be a bizarre history of big clubs’ managers getting heated as they desperately scrap for points, including the likes of Tuchel, Conte, Jose Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, to name a few. 

Below, Sportsmail takes a look into the best touchline bust-ups in the Premier League over the years.

The two managers got physical again after full time (above), and both were ultimately sent off

Wenger vs Mourinho (2014)

Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho had a long-standing rivalry and history, which started way back in 2004 when the Portuguese manager arrived at Stamford Bridge.

Gunners boss Wenger accused the Blues of spending big money that they didn’t earn and that is where this story began, therefore when it kicked off it February 2014 it was to be expected.

Mourinho taunted Wenger by calling him a ‘specialist in failure’ and later that year, they truly came to blows on the touchline.

Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-0 at Stamford Bridge in October 2014, a game that is best remembered for Wenger pushing Mourinho as they two clashed following a heavy challenge from Gary Cahill on Alexis Sanchez.

Mourinho responded to Wenger’s push by flicking his tie.

Arsene Wenger pushed Jose Mourinho in a Chelsea v Arsenal match back in 2014

Sir Alex Ferguson vs Mancini (2012)

The heat of the Manchester derby and the pressure of the title race got to both these managers at the Etihad Stadium in 2012.

The two rivals were battling it out for the Premier League title and it ended with them both rowing on the touchline during the second half after a foul by Manchester City’s Nigel de Jong on Danny Welbeck, who left on crutches. 

The fourth official, Mike Jones, helped to separate the pair, who were pulled part by members of their backroom staffs.

The fourth official, Mike Jones, helped to separate Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini

Ferguson said: ‘He was badgering the referee the whole game, the fourth official and the linesman, and the minute I go out there…

‘He was complaining about referees all week, he can’t be complaining tonight, that’s for sure.’

Victorious Mancini played the incident down, adding: ‘I don’t remember (what the row was about). I told the fourth official it was a foul for us, not against. At that moment the tension was high, but for me it’s forgotten.’

Lampard vs Klopp (2020)

Frank Lampard, at the time Chelsea manager,  lost his cool and exploded into a heated, foul-mouthed rant towards Jurgen Klopp and the Liverpool bench.

The now Everton boss was feeling the pressure with his side trailing at Anfield following Naby Keita’s opener and saw the red mist descend when a soft foul was given on the edge of the Chelsea area.

The Blues boss immediately began to boil over at the referee’s decision, and responded immediately after hearing murmurings from the Liverpool section of the dug-out.

New footage has shown the extent of Frank Lampard’s rant towards the Liverpool bench

Lampard saw red after a soft foul was given and told his counterpart Jurgen Klopp to ‘f*** off’

‘How is that a foul? There’s no foul there,’ Lampard appeared to shout, taking steps towards Liverpool boss Klopp before the fourth official intervenes.

‘Sit down then,’ Lampard could be heard barking at the German, before getting more irate as Klopp gestured a calm down motion with his outstretched arms.

Lampard then turned his attention to Liverpool’s No 2 Pep Lijnders, as Klopp could be heard slowly repeating: ‘calm down, calm down.’

‘If he’s going off at me I’ll f****** say something,’ Lampard appeared to reply sharply to Klopp, while pointing an outstretched arm towards the seated Lijnders. 

Lampard could then be seen pacing away in the opposite direction, before turning on his heels and once more getting embroiled in confrontation.

Jurgen Klopp repeatedly asked Lampard to calm down as the Chelsea boss flew off the handle

Pointing at his own substitute’s bench and then back towards the Liverpool dug-out, Lampard looked to be addressing Klopp’s assistant Lijnders directly.

‘It’s not a f****** foul, I’m not asking you!’ barked Lampard, before Klopp could finally be seen to lose his own temper and scream a high-pitched ‘hey’ back at the Chelsea man.

‘You can f*** off and all,’ Lampard appeared to say, with the adrenaline pumping. ‘You think you can give it the big one, f*** off.’

The officials quickly intervened between the two managers to take Lampard away from the situation, before he offered his final words to Klopp regarding the Liverpool bench: ‘Tell them to have respect, sit down,’ he added.

Lampard was critical of the behaviour of some of Liverpool’s backroom staff after the foul

Klopp vs Arteta (2021)  

Klopp and Arteta both received yellow cards for a confrontation at Anfield in 2021, when Liverpool beat Arsenal 4-0. 

The pair came face-to-face on the touchline in the 32nd minute after an aerial battle between Sadio Mane and Takehiro Tomiyasu left the latter on the deck. 

Arteta completely lost his temper and had to, at one point, be physically restrained by his assistant as he threatened to enter Klopp’s technical area. Both managers were eventually booked by referee Michael Oliver.

‘I think he was defending his team and I was defending my team. That’s it,’ was the curt explanation given by Arteta when asked about the incident after the game.

When asked what prompted his reaction, Arteta told Sky Sports: ‘Nothing. He (Klopp) was defending his team, I was defending my team. I congratulated him for the game.

‘For me, all these incidents they stay there, they’re part of the hit and the way we would like to compete.’

Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta both received yellow cards for a confrontation at Anfield

Pardew vs Wenger (2006)

Frenchman Wenger did not take too kindly to Alan Pardew’s celebrations after West Ham scored a late winner at Upton Park in 2006. 

The Hammers boss punched the air wildly after Marlon Harewood’s effort and aimed a Bruce Forsyth-esque fist-pump pose towards the Arsenal bench that caught Wenger’s eye. 

Pardew and Wenger then exchanged words before the Arsenal boss pushed his counterpart twice and the pair had to be separated by the fourth official.

The duo clashed once again at full-time after no handshake.

Wenger did not take too kindly to Pardew’s celebrations after West Ham scored a late winner

Pardew vs Pellegrini (2014)

Then Crystal Palace manager Pardew reacted strongly to a foul by Yaya Toure in the first half of their clash with Manchester City at Selhurst Park.

The two managers Pardew and City boss Manuel Pellegrini clashed on the touchline after midfielder Toure was booked for a reckless foul on James McArthur.

An angry Pardew approached the fourth official but was then pushed back by Pellegrini who gestured for him to return to his own technical area.

The two managers have, of course, something of a history, with Pardew forced to apologise to Pellegrini for swearing at the City boss during a 2-0 defeat as Newcastle manager in January 2014.

Alan Pardew approached the fourth official, but was pushed back by City’s Manuel Pellegrini

Mourinho vs Conte (2016)

Mourinho was unhappy with Conte’s celebrations during Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge in 2016, having a word with the Italian at full-time.

Mourinho’s frustrations were evident at the final whistle as he remonstrated with Conte about his behaviour on the touchline, feeling the Italian had ‘humiliated’ him and his team with his hysterical celebrations. 

It was reported that he angrily said to his rival at the final whistle: ‘You don’t celebrate like that at 4-0, you can do it at 1-0, otherwise it’s humiliating for us.’ 

It was certainly a prolonged handshake in which pleasantries were in short supply.

This feud is far from over as well with both managers still having words with each other in later meetings and in the media whenever they clash. 

Mourinho was unhappy with Conte’s celebrations during Chelsea’s 4-0 win over Man United

Mancini v Moyes (2010)

Mancini raced over to Moyes’ technical area and bumped into the Scot in a bid to retrieve the ball during stoppage time of Manchester City’s 2-0 loss to Everton at the Etihad in 2010, sparking a shouting match.

The scuffle happened after Moyes caught the ball, an action Mancini considered time wasting. 

The two managers shook hands afterwards having been told they had to share a lift to watch the rest of the game from the stands.

Italian Mancini was later fined £20,000 and suspended until the end of the 2011/12 season, after being found guilty of improper conduct, the Football Association have announced.

‘I have spoken with David and if I made a mistake I am sorry to him and to the referee,’ said the City manager. 

‘I only wanted to get the ball because we had another five minutes at the end. I was frustrated. 

‘The referee sent me off but I don’t think there is anything more in it. It’s nothing, finished.’

Roberto Mancini raced over to David Moyes’ technical area and bumped into the Scotsman