“I’ll see ya out there.”
As great as football is on the pitch, it can often make for fairly insipid viewing off it. We’re thinking of the countless press conferences and interviews, where players and coaches sound more like politicians than athletes.
We don’t blame them; one slip of the tongue, especially these days in the era of social media obsession, and a careless comment can lead to a reputation tarnished.
However, every so often, those in football just say ‘f*ck it’ and tell us what they really think.
With that in mind, we take a look at the times when the stars shunned all that handy PR training and let rip for the craic.
Eric Cantona and his comeback press conference
“Eric likes to do what he likes, when he likes, because he likes it – and then f*ck off. We’d all want a bit of that.” The words of Cantona’s former Leeds manager, Howard Wilkinson.
The United legend had just completed his ban for that Kung fu kick on the unsuspecting Crystal Palace fan.
National media waited for months to hear from the enigma; this is all he said upon his return.
Allegedly, Cantona only discovered what the actual English word for seagull was just moments earlier after asking an official.
The fact that he immediately takes a water break makes it even more brilliant.
Kevin Keegan and the time his heart ruled his head, slightly
In 1995/96, Newcastle were flying, top of the league, scoring goals for fun and on the verge of winning their first Premier League title.
Then things got very Newcastle-y.
Points began to drop, Faustino Asprilla arrived and did as he pleased, and Alex Ferguson (pre ‘Sir’) started the mind games.
Keegan was of course reacting to Fergie questioning Leeds’ commitment to the cause in a move that was 100% carried out in order to disrupt their main rivals.
It very much worked.
That Euro ’96 poster in the background also became quite famous in the process.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his defiant sexuality
“I am north, south, east and west. I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic.”
Oh, Zlatan. The Swede is great value, both on and off the pitch.
Casting minds back to the mercurial forward’s days with Barcelona and one incident in particular springs to mind.
https://youtu.be/kFv6kh_rPPA
And his critics have the nerve to question his work rate?!
Well, he certainly seemed willing to put in the effort in order to confirm his heterosexuality to that female journalist… and her sister.
Craig Bellamy and his ridiculously honest post-match interview
On the one hand, you have a man who has done incredible charity work in Sierra Leone. On the other, you have the somewhat, eh, abrasive opinion-wielder.
This interviewer certainly got a taste of the latter-type Bellamy in this fantastic exchange after Wales’ 2-0 defeat at home to Finland.
You have to appreciate the brutal honesty on show.
The Sunday-morning-hangover-hand-to-face is a particular highlight.
Roy Keane arranging where to meet up with Patrick Vieira later
Truly, one of the greatest sideshows in the history of any sport.
Whoever decided to place a camera in the Highbury tunnel before that Arsenal v Manchester United match in 2005 deserved a serious raise, which we very much hope the individual in question received.
There is so much gold in this clip, besides the obvious.
Cygan’s stare down, Rooney looking about 12-years-old, Rob Styles playing it cool, Almunia trying his best not to laugh, Scholes not looking all that bothered by events, really.
Magical, just magical. All of it.
They’re just some examples, but there are loads out there. Hit us up with some more gems on our Facebook or Twitter.
