Ian Holloway’s biggest media explosions as Swindon manager goes ballistic yet again
Ian Holloway has rubber-stamped his status as one of English football’s greatest ever characters following a series of public outbursts this season.
Holloway, 62, has been managing in the EFL since 1996, following a playing career that saw him represent the likes of Bristol Rovers, Brentford and Queens Park Rangers.
He has managed both Rovers and Rangers over the last 30 years, among numerous other clubs, such as Blackpool, Crystal Palace and Millwall.
Holloway made headlines last year after calling out Gary Lineker in his autobiography, and the Gloucestershire-born boss has never been too far from controversy throughout his time in management.
That has only been amplified by his last few weeks of outbursts while he manages Swindon Town, with a new outburst emerging on local BBC radio on Saturday after their 3-0 win over Oldham.
Football Insider have now looked at four rants of his that fans should never forget.
Ian Holloway blasts Wayne Rooney amid Man United contract controversy
Going back to 2010 while he was in charge of Blackpool in the Premier League, Holloway voiced his opposition towards the FA and their adoption of the Bosman rule, which allows players over the age of 24 to move for free at the end of their contracts.
His gripe came off the back of a dispute between Rooney and Man United, after he refused to sign a new deal and looked set to walk away for nothing when his contract was to expire in 2012.
Holloway went on a passionate rant against the ruling and Rooney, saying: “I’ve got big problems with the people who are running football. I know the reasons to not have the Bosman ruling they’ve got at the moment.
“He’s (Rooney) one of the best centre-forwards in the world. And if he sees his contract out, he’s going to be able to walk out of there for nothing. That’s the people at the very top of the game’s fault.
“Our rules were brilliant. If he was offered the same amount of money again, they could hold his registration and someone would have to pay the fair amount of money for him.
“Just because you’re 24, what on earth has that got to do with it? It’s just ludicrous. They have the power to change this straight away.
“If Alex Ferguson is being bullied by a player and his agent, how wrong is the game? When are you (FIFA) going to listen to the people who are involved in the game?
“They say it’s not fair on the player. Rubbish. The player has had his wages every week. They bought him, they worked with him, he belongs to them. It’s so obvious.“
Rooney has since managed the likes of Plymouth, Derby and Birmingham, after staying at United until 2017, but the two are yet to cross paths in the dugout.
Wilfried Zaha transfer saga sees Holloway lash out at reporters
Zaha was a key man for Holloway during his time in charge of Palace, as he helped fire them to promotion from the Championship in the 2012-13 season.
Rumours around his future emerged in January 2013, which made Holloway fume as he launched into a tirade against those reporting on those links following an FA Cup loss to Stoke City.
He said: “For Christ’s sake, write about something else. I’m sick and fed up of reading about him, if it happens, if it doesn’t, it doesn’t.
“Try and get other stories. And as for your little programme on the telly, where you’re counting down, just go and get a job. Get a life.“
Zaha became a Palace legend in the years that followed, despite leaving for Man United at the end of that season, as he returned on loan in 2014 and made over 300 appearances for the club.
Holloway took aim at the FA for late Ollie Clarke ban
Fast-forward to this season, with Holloway currently in charge of League Two outfit Swindon and leading them into a battle for automatic promotion.
Club-captain Clarke was banned for seven games by the FA in December, but mistakenly appeared in Swindon’s EFL Trophy win over Luton Town on 13 January, which resulted in a further one-match ban and the club being thrown out of the competition.
The latter ban was issued just one day before the Robins’ 31 January clash against Barrow, which saw Holloway launch an iconic rant against the authorities that went viral on social media.
“We had a terrible blow yesterday, where I was told at five o’clock that my captain can’t play after we prepared with him in the team,” he fumed.
“I’ve rung the League Managers Association to complain. I think that’s unprofessional.
“They want to fine me? Good! They want to ban me? Good! Do it! Have a look at yourselves. Every single goddamn one of you. It’s absolutely disgusting.”
“And if Luton go through, good luck to you. We beat you, fair and poxy square. I’m not having our club secretary dragged through the coals, left, right and centre.
“You have a look at yourselves first. I know how wrong you are, you cowards.”
Holloway fumed at people talking during his post-match interview
The 62-year-old is clearly not a happy man at the moment, even though his Swindon side sit third in the fourth tier following a run of three consecutive wins.
After a 3-0 home victory against Oldham on Saturday, Holloway was heard screaming at people, potentially his own players, in the background of his post-match interview so that he could be heard more clearly.
A Robins fan posted his outburst to X, as he asked: “Can you shut them up in there?” and followed that up by screaming: “Shut up! Bang it (the wall). Shut up!”