The Greatest Hits: Neil Warnock's 10 Greatest Moments as EFL Legend Returns to Management

Neil Warnock's Greatest Moments in the EFL

Neil Warnock is without doubt one of the most iconic people in the history of British football, he's managed half of the teams in the EFL and provided some of the funniest moments ever seen in the sport.

At 77 years of age Warnock has seemingly already got bored of his retirement and has been announced as the new Torquay United boss, taking over from Paul Wotton after a 5-0 defeat to Chelmsford City saw him sacked.

He has previously announced his retirement twice already before ending up back on the side-lines but yet again he's back.

From being an unexpectedly elite bowler to channelling his inner Liam Gallagher at a camera here are 10 of Warnock's greatest moments in celebration of his return to the dugout.

They don't make managers like Neil Warnock anymore.

He gave team talks naked, cut his players' toe nails and picked the team based on his wife's dreams.

So by all means enjoy this thread, but "enjoy it by being fucking disciplined"... pic.twitter.com/1EnujuX8Dc

— The Upshot podcast (@UpshotTowers) September 25, 2024

1) The Unexpected Bowler

Growing up in Sheffield, Warnock's boyhood club was Sheffield United and he was fortunate enough to find himself as the clubs manager in 1999.

As part of a team bonding trip the squad went to a local bowling alley where Warnock convinced them all to put a £20 stake on the line in a winner takes all game.

After convincing everyone to do so Warnock then pulls out his own custom bowling shoes and bowling ball to play a 250 score game and taking everyone's money in the process.

Paul Peschisolido on Neil Warnock taking the Sheffield Utd players bowling: "He convinced us all to put £10 in a pot, winner takes all. We agreed for some fun, then he pulled out his own bowling shoes and custom ball, shot 250 and took all our money". pic.twitter.com/yzFfkl6FpK

— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) March 26, 2018

2) "Get Back In Your F#*$ing Cupboard!"

A few years later and still in charge of the blades, Warnock managed to guide the Yorkshire side into the final four of both the League Cup and the FA Cup.

In what can only be described as a very heated semi-final tie against Liverpool in the League Cup, Neil ended up in an argument with Liverpool's assistant Phil Thompson, who for the sake of the story it should be pointed out had a rather large nose.

During this argument Warnock shouted over at Thompson; "You can f*** off Pinocchio, get back in your f***ing cupboard!"

Sewer rats, titanic bollockings, and an absolutely atrocious Forrest Gump impression.

Happy Birthday Neil Warnock. pic.twitter.com/VgKXkWHP3u

— MUNDIAL (@MundialMag) December 1, 2021

3) Iconic Team Talks

Technically these are two separate instances but because they're so similar, and because Warnock has too many great moments, they're being included as one entry.

In 2004 documentary cameras arrived to follow the club and it spawned two of the most famous British football clips of all time.

Firstly, we have the famous "You've got to f***ing die to get 3 points" which came as he was rallying his side for the second half.

Secondly, ahead of an FA Cup tie to Arsenal Neil came up with a genius bit of wisdom on how his side could come out of the game with a result by telling his squad; "Enjoy it. But enjoy it by being f***ing disciplined."

No one did feuds like Neil Warnock.

He branded one enemy a “deranged lunatic” and told a big-nosed manager: “you can fook off Pinocchio, get back in your fookin’ cupboard”.

And his bitter rivalry with Arsene Wenger was the stuff of legend…

Back in 2003, Arsenal triumphed over… pic.twitter.com/6DvClXS3lr

— The Upshot podcast (@UpshotTowers) September 25, 2023

4) Reminding The Side How Close It Can Be

Prior to a game in which a win puts Sheffield United on the brink of promotion to the Premier League, Warnock sees it fit to remind his players just how fine the margins can be in football.

In comes the all inspiring phrase, "It might be a knob end in the 91st minute that wins it."

Seemingly it worked though as the side did go on to get promoted, unfortunately they are relegated in their first season up and Warnock moves to Palace.

Happy 74th Birthday to Neil Warnock 🎂

The man who once said no to a minute silence:

“I want them all to be chanting "Warnock's a wanker" over and over again. For a whole minute. That would be my ideal.” 😂

They don’t make them like Neil anymore.https://t.co/uOTN8PXqIs

— LADbible (@ladbible) December 1, 2022

5) A Stroke of Genius From a Dream

Before an FA Cup replay in 2010, Warnock's wife tells him about a dream in which she saw a full-back scoring the winner.

Naturally Warnock decides the logical thing to do after hearing this is to play second choice right-back Danny Butterfield up front for the game much to the horror of both the team and fans alike.

Evidently though Warnock was right for listening to his wife's prophecy as Butterfield went on to score a 6 minute hattrick as the side won 3-1.

On this day in 2010 🗓️

Neil Warnock played Danny Butterfield up front for Crystal Palace after his wife had a dream that his right back would score the winning goal against Wolves 💤

He went on to score a hat-trick in 6 minutes and 48 seconds… 🤯🤯pic.twitter.com/ydNUvnrhjg

— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) February 2, 2026

6) Awkward Reunion

Warnock made clear his dislike for then Blackburn player El-Hadji Diouf in a presser and used very strong words in describing how he felt about the Senegalese international and his actions on pitch.

"You could see what a nasty piece of fish he is.

"I called him a little sewer rate but that might be a little harsh on the sewer rats."

Despite this Warnock clearly saw talent in Diouf as a year later he went on to sign him for Leeds United whilst he was in charge of the side and we can only imagine there was an awkward brushing off of his words just a year before.

The night has got off to a comical start. Having once branded El-Hadji Diouf a "sewer rat", Neil Warnock has made El Hadji Diouf his captain

— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) October 2, 2012

7) Head in Hands Moments

We can all agree that we've had our fair share of arguments at referee decisions, perhaps not to their faces but we've all at least shouted at a TV or been left with our heads in our hands.

Similarly so has Neil Warnock except he got to do it right in front of the referees to showcase his disappointment first hand.

In 2019, whilst he was in charge of Cardiff City, the side were beaten by Chelsea due to a goal that was very clearly offside but missed by the officials.

So in protest as the officials gathered on the pitch after the final whistle Warnock stood just a few feet away from them with his head in his hands staring them down and unintentionally spawned one of the greatest reaction videos of all time.

Neil Warnock standing mere feet from the ref with his hands on his head after he dropped a clanger against his Cardifff side when they played Chelsea will never fail. pic.twitter.com/9ceNigPrXX https://t.co/PoiwVYcHWy

— HLTCO (@HLTCO) September 30, 2025

8) Warnock's Inner Liam Gallagher

There seemed to be something in the water in Cardiff when Warnock was in charge as yet another one of the iconic reaction videos came from his time in charge in the Welsh capital.

Before kick-off between Cardiff and Crystal Palace the camera-people were doing the usual filming of players warming up and managers on the touchline but didn't take into account they were accidentally irritating Neil.

Subsequently, Warnock marched down the camera with his arms behind his back looking like a new Oasis member, when asked about it he simply said;

"I just had a camera pushed in my face so I thought I'd do it to him." Seems fair in all honesty.

Neil Warnock, ladies and gentlemen 😂 pic.twitter.com/FG0Z8vVugo

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 4, 2019

9) A Man of the People

During COVID posing for photos and signing autographs was prohibited due to the risk of the close contact required.

Not one to let the fans down however, Neil came up with a genius solution so that he could avoid the restricted close contact with fans and autographing.

To achieve this he turned up to training sessions with a bum bag filled with signed photos of himself that he could hand out to young fans in place of the usual selfie taking.

What a lovely touch. Thank you Neil, my daughter is over the moon. ❤️ @Boro @GazetteBoro #utb #tavistock @tafclambs pic.twitter.com/GLRDQuM2jb

— Lee Hall (@LeeHall1977) July 21, 2021

10) Plans for After He Passes One Day

When the tragic day eventually arrives that Neil Warnock is no longer with us he has objectively stated that he doesn't want the usual minutes silence that is customary when paying respects to a footballing figure.

Instead he has made it clear that he would rather fans chant "Warnock's a wa***r" over and over again.

He already had this wish fulfilled once during what we suspected to be his final game in English football and fingers crossed it'll be fulfilled again when the time is right.

On this day in 2023… 🗓️

Neil Warnock had his last game in English football…

He always said he didn’t want applause or a minute's silence when he's gone.

He said "I want them to be chanting 'Warnock's a wanker'".

And he got his wish 🤣🤣pic.twitter.com/wO6inVSKAJ

— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) September 20, 2024