Football managers live and die by their decisions. When they guide their team to victory they are a ‘leader of men’ when they slump to defeat against a non-league team in the first round of the cup everyone in the pub could do a better job. Deep down we all know that being a successful football manager is a highly skilled job, with many pressures, and when it comes down to it we should all stick to playing Football Manager 2008.

There are times though when even the greatest managers make you question their abilities with their ‘questionable’ decisions. Take Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest for example who punched his own fans for invading the pitch. Or Graeme Souness at Southampton, who signed Ali Dia, supposedly a cousin of World Footballer of the Year George Weah. He came on as a sub and clearly showed he wasn’t any kind of player, and was duly subbed after 21 minutes never to play for the club again.

‘Manager Gaffes’ aren’t just made domestically either. Proven managers who make it to the pinnacle of their managerial career by taking charge of the National team, can fall foul. During the 1970 World Cup, England’s very own Sir Alf Ramsey was taking charge of the Three Lions against the old enemy – West Germany. Bobby Charlton was having a storming game against The Kaiser, Franz Beckenbauer. England were leading 2-0 when Bobby Charlton was subbed, freeing The Kaiser to have a greater influence on the game. England went on to lose the game and surrender their grip on the World Cup.

The list of managerial mishaps is a long one, and there will be many more added to it in the near and distant future. Below we have mentioned a few Football Manager 2008 favourites including Leroy Rosenior being manager of Torquay for 10 minutes, Harry Redknapp signing Marco Boogers and Kevin Keegan’s infamous “I’d love it!” speech.

1 – Cloughie Clouts Fan
Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest, punching his own fans who invaded the pitch.

2 – Souness Super Sub
Graeme Souness at Southampton signing Ali Dia, who was supposed to be George Weah’s cousin. He came on as a sub, and was duly subbed after 12 minutes and never played for the club again.

3 – Beckham’s Galaticos Glory
Fabio Capello at Real Madrid dropping David Beckham after declaring him a movie star. A run of poor performances caused Capello to re-instate Beckham to the starting line-up. A resurgent Madrid went on to win the league in the final game of the season.

4 – Sir Alf Gives Freedom To The Kaiser Chief
Sir Alf Ramsey subbing Bobby Charlton, who was keeping Franz Beckenbauer occupied, in the 1970 World Cup when England were leading West Germany. England went on to lose the game and surrender their grip on the World Cup.

5 – Rosenior’s Future Not So Rosey
Leroy Rosenior being declared manager of Torquay, only to be told 10 minutes later that the club had been sold and he was again out of a job.

6 – Hoddle’s Harsh Words
Glenn Hoddle commenting that disabled people were being punished for actions in a previous life, leading to his sacking from the England managers job.

7 – Shearer Reigns Supreme
Ruud Gullit whilst in charge of Newcastle decided that the team would be better off without the services of star player and talisman Alan Shearer in a game against local rivals Sunderland. Newcastle lost and Gullit was sacked.

8 – Redknapp Caught Napping
Harry Redknapp has always been known as a bit of a wheeler and dealer, but the arrival of 'Mad' Marco Boogers for £1m from Sparta Rotterdam in July 1995 was just one of a number of misjudged West Ham imports. Coming on as a substitute against Manchester United in only his second appearance for the club, Boogers was almost immediately red carded for a horror tackle on Gary Neville. He promptly disappeared, discovered several weeks later hiding in a mobile home in a Dutch caravan park. The Boogers debacle, which ended in a loan deal and subsequent free transfer to Groningen despite his protestations - 'I'm not mental' - was the worst of a dreadful Redknapp collection.

9 – “I’d Love It”
Kevin Keegan letting Alex Ferguson mind games get to him and losing it during a live interview with Sky in the run in for the Premiership title, screaming to the camera – “I’d love it, love it if we beat them”

10 – Ron Get’s Dug-Out
‘Big’ Ron Atkinson becoming the new manager of bottom of the table Nottingham Forest and for his first game got into the wrong team’s dugout.