The now former Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim, joined a unique club with his post-match comments against Leeds United, which preceded his departure from the club.
Leeds secured a battling draw against Man United in the game between the two sides at the weekend, which turned out to be Amorim’s final game in charge of the club.
The former Sporting Lisbon manager gave a remarkable post-match press conference in the media suite at Elland Road, in what would become his last act as manager of the club.
It has been a dramatic season for post-match comments at Leeds’ famous old ground, as Liverpool’s Mo Salah also aired his forthright views on Arne Slot after the game between the two sides.
With that in mind, here are some of the most memorable post-match meltdowns by opposition figures after games at Elland Road.
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Kevin Keegan – Newcastle United, 1996
Who could ever forget Kevin Keegan’s infamous rant after his title hopefuls, Newcastle United, came to Elland Road.
30 years ago to the day, Newcastle had a huge lead at the top of the Premier League table, as Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man United side looked to chase them down.
By the time Newcastle came to Elland Road in April, Keegan’s Newcastle were three points behind the Red Devils, with a game in hand. When asked an innocuous question about the psychological battle with Ferguson, Keegan blew his lid, which can be viewed via YouTube.
He said: “When you do that with footballers, like he said about Leeds, and when you do things like that about a man like Stuart Pearce, I’ve kept really quiet, but I’ll tell you something, he went down in my estimation when he said that.
“We have not resorted to that, but I’ll tell you, you can tell him now if you’re watching it, we’re still fighting for this title, and he’s got to go to Middlesbrough and get something, and… and… I’ll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them. Love it.”
Sadly for Keegan, his rousing speech did not lift his team, and they ultimately fell short of the Premier League title.
Jurgen Klopp – Liverpool, 2021
Leeds’ game against Liverpool in 2021 was threatened to be overshadowed by the announcement of the breakaway European Super League.
This proposed innovation prompted uproar from fans, former players and pundits alike, and Leeds warmed up for their game with Liverpool, one of the proposed participants, wearing t-shirts emblazoned with the caption “Champions League – Earn it” and “Football is for the fans”.
Asked about the protest after the game, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was critical of the gesture, branding it as “a joke”.
Speaking via ESPN, Klopp said: “I saw there are warm-up shirts, which we will not wear. We cannot, but if someone thinks they have to remind us that we have to earn it to play in the Champions League, it’s a joke. A real joke!”
He added: “And they put [the shirt] in our dressing room. If it was a Leeds idea, thank you very much. Nobody has to remind us. Maybe they should remind themselves.”
Mo Salah – Liverpool, 2026
Another day, another Liverpool outburst at Elland Road, and this time it is Mo Salah’s statement issued after the 3-3 draw between the two sides earlier this season.
Salah’s remarkable post-match interview in the mixed zone completely overshadowed Leeds’ Ao Tanaka-inspired comeback, as he spectacularly burned his bridges with Slot.
Speaking via The Independent, Salah raged: “The third time on the bench, I think for the first time in my career. I’m very, very disappointed, to be fair. I have done so much for this club down the years, and especially last season.
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“Now I’m sitting on the bench, and I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That is how I am feeling. I think it is very clear that someone wanted me to get all of the blame.
“I got a lot of promises in the summer, and so far I am on the bench for three games, so I can’t say they keep their promise.
“I said many times before that I had a good relationship with the manager, and all of a sudden, we don’t have any relationship. I don’t know why, but it seems to me, how I see it, that someone doesn’t want me in the club.”
Massimo Cellino – Leeds United, 2014
It is only fair to include some Leeds representation in this list, and former owner Massimo Cellino seems the perfect man to include in a round-up of famous outbursts.
There is a long back catalogue of Cellino quotes to pick from, as the divisive Italian was fond of shooting from the hip during his time at Elland Road.
Cellino was particularly unforgiving towards his players after Leeds fell to a 5-1 defeat at home against Bolton in April 2014, as Matt Smith scored a solitary consolation for the Whites.
This prompted Cellino to brand his players as “chickens” after the game, as he said, via Bleacher Report: “This was about the players. They were without pride and should be ashamed of themselves. They’re chickens and much better than this.”
Ruben Amorim – Manchester United, 2026
It is fitting to save the final word to Amorim, whose words after the game against Leeds were his last as Man Utd manager.
A brilliant Brenden Aaronson goal had appeared to set Leeds on course for a victory, and the Portuguese manager did not hold back in his assessment of the Man United hierarchy after the game.
Speaking via The Mirror, the now ex-Man United manager said: “Guys, to stop with that, and I noticed that you received selective information about everything. I came here to be the manager of Manchester United, not to be the coach of Manchester United. That is clear.”
“I know that my name is not Tuchel, is not Conte, is not Mourinho, but I’m the manager of Manchester United. It’s going to be like this for 18 months or when the board decided to change.
“That was my point. I want to finish with that. I’m not going to quit. I will do my job until another guy is coming here to replace me.”
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