New Coaching Trend: Punching players

The football world is focused on managers today. In addition to Jose Mourinho leaving Chelsea, Gheorghe Hagi has decided he has spent enough time working for a lunatic owner at Steaua Bucharest. The stress of being a manager must be great. Not only do you have to please your boss, but you have to keep on top of the latest coaching techniques and strategies…like the current trend of managers punching players.

First up, Portugal boss (term used loosely now that Mourinho is available) Big Phil Scolari who has been suspended for four games by UEFA for trying to land an uppercut to the face of Serbia’s Ivica Dragutinovic during Euro 2008 qualifying last week.

Not to be outdone, here is Akbar Misaghian, who earns his paycheck by managing Rah Ahan F.C. in Iran. He shows that the best motivational tool a coach can ever use is a slap to the face and a kick to the leg. Reminds me of the coach of my U-8 team. He probably is in jail these days.

Which brings us back to Mourinho since by law all things must lead back to the Special One today. Here he is giving his regards to a stunned Carlos Puyol before a Champions League match.

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Category: Asia, World Football