The Premier League is no stranger to drama. Beyond the goals, the glory, and the trophies lies a more personal battlefield — the dressing room. Managers and players are expected to work in harmony, but when personalities clash or egos inflate, even the biggest names can find themselves at odds. From training ground bust-ups to cryptic Instagram posts, fallout stories between players and managers have become part of the league’s rich narrative.

Let’s dive into some of the most memorable fallouts in Premier League history and how they impacted careers, clubs, and in some cases, the title race itself.

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1. Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Erik ten Hag (Manchester United)

Arguably one of the most high-profile fallouts in recent times, Cristiano Ronaldo’s second stint at Manchester United ended in controversy. What began as a dream return quickly turned sour under Erik ten Hag.

Ronaldo was benched for key games, left the stadium before full-time on multiple occasions, and ultimately gave a bombshell interview in late 2022, claiming he had “no respect” for Ten Hag. United terminated his contract shortly after.

While the fallout was messy, it marked a turning point in Ten Hag’s authority — and underlined the difficulty of managing aging superstars with huge influence.

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2. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang vs. Mikel Arteta (Arsenal)

Aubameyang’s fallout with Mikel Arteta serves as a classic case of a manager asserting discipline. Once Arsenal’s captain and talisman, Aubameyang was dropped in 2021 for repeated breaches of club protocol, including timekeeping and commitment issues.

Arteta stood firm, stripped him of the captaincy, and eventually exiled him from the squad. The Gabonese striker left for Barcelona soon after, while Arteta doubled down on building a young, disciplined core. Arsenal’s resurgence in the following seasons suggests that the bold call paid off.

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3. Paul Pogba vs. José Mourinho (Manchester United)

Perhaps no player-manager fallout in recent memory has been more public than Paul Pogba’s with José Mourinho. The pair were constantly at odds during Mourinho’s tenure at Manchester United. Pogba was stripped of the vice-captaincy, benched for key matches, and even caught in a tense training ground exchange caught on Sky Sports cameras.

Mourinho accused Pogba of lacking professionalism and commitment, while Pogba reportedly felt shackled by the manager’s defensive tactics. The situation became toxic and divisive, with fans split over who was to blame. Mourinho eventually left, but the relationship left lasting scars on United’s dressing room.

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4. Raheem Sterling vs. Brendan Rodgers (Liverpool)

Before becoming a Premier League star at Manchester City, Raheem Sterling had a dramatic exit from Liverpool. In the final months of his time at Anfield, Sterling refused to sign a new contract and gave an unsanctioned interview with the BBC, where he openly questioned his future.

Though manager Brendan Rodgers publicly supported Sterling, tension reportedly simmered behind the scenes. The relationship deteriorated, and Sterling forced a move to City in 2015. While Rodgers kept Liverpool competitive, the loss of Sterling proved to be a turning point in both their careers.

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5. Carlos Tevez vs. Roberto Mancini (Manchester City)

One of the most infamous incidents in Premier League history occurred in 2011 when Carlos Tevez refused to warm up during a Champions League match against Bayern Munich, prompting Roberto Mancini to claim Tevez was “finished” at City.

The fallout was seismic. Tevez was suspended, fined, and spent several months in Argentina before making a shocking return later that season to help City clinch their first Premier League title. Despite the temporary reconciliation, the trust had eroded — Tevez left for Juventus shortly afterward.

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6. Joey Barton vs. Alan Shearer & Joe Kinnear (Newcastle United)

Joey Barton has never been far from controversy, and his time at Newcastle United was no exception. In 2009, he clashed with club legend Alan Shearer, who was managing the team during their relegation battle. After a red card and a heated exchange, Barton was frozen out.

He also had run-ins with then-director Joe Kinnear and later revealed how deep the tension ran. Barton’s ability was never in doubt, but his outspoken nature often put him at odds with authority figures — and this was one of his most notable breakdowns.

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7. William Gallas vs. Arsenal (2008)

William Gallas served as Arsenal captain but saw his leadership called into question when he publicly criticised his teammates, claiming some lacked the mental strength to win. Arsène Wenger was unimpressed, stripping Gallas of the armband and benching him.

While Gallas eventually returned to the team, the relationship never fully recovered. He left for Tottenham in 2010 — a move that did little to mend his bond with the Arsenal faithful. The incident marked the beginning of a shift in Wenger’s dressing room leadership strategy.

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Why These Fallouts Matter

Player-manager relationships are more than just professional dynamics — they’re built on trust, communication, and shared vision. When that breaks down, the entire club can feel the shockwaves. In some cases, the manager asserts authority and the team benefits (like Arteta with Aubameyang). In others, the fallout destabilizes the club (as with Pogba and Mourinho).

With modern football’s spotlight brighter than ever and egos larger than life, managing personalities is just as crucial as tactical nous. The best managers find ways to keep the dressing room united — but when they can’t, the fallout becomes public, often with lasting consequences.

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Final Thoughts

The Premier League’s rich history is filled with drama, but few storylines are as compelling as a player falling out with their manager. Whether it’s about discipline, tactics, contracts, or personal grudges, these bust-ups reveal the human side of football — messy, emotional, and often unpredictable.

As fans, we may never know the full story behind closed doors, but these conflicts remind us that even the brightest talents can be undone by fractured relationships. And in the Premier League, no one — not even the biggest star — is untouchable.