Former Manchester United manager David Moyes admits he put a stop to the players’ pre-match ritual of eating chips during his time at Old Trafford because some of his squad were overweight.
Rio Ferdinand criticized the move in his autobiography ‘£2Sides’ last September, after Moyes had been sacked at United following just 10 months in charge.
Here, Press Association Sport looks at other bosses who have clamped down on club menus in an effort to boost performances on the pitch.
1. Paolo Di Canio, Sunderland: Ketchup, mayonnaise and soda
After replacing Martin O’Neill as Black Cats boss in 2013, Di Canio aimed to oversee a “complete revolution” at the club, banning ketchup, mayonnaise and soda. The Italian also refused to allow coffee, which he said affected his players’ moods, and drinks with ice, which he believed caused indigestion.
2. Rafael Benitez, Valencia: Ice cream
Benitez infuriated his Valencia squad when he took over in 2001 by replacing the players’ favorite ice cream with a more healthy variety made from skimmed milk and rice. The slim-line dessert seemed to do the trick, however, as Benitez led the team to two La Liga titles in 2002 and 2004.
3. Arsene Wenger, Arsenal: Chocolate
The Gunners squad were not immediately convinced by Wenger’s innovative methods when he arrived in 1996 and were particularly put out by the new manager’s ban on chocolate. The team reportedly chanted, “We want our Mars Bars!” at the back of the bus before the Frenchman’s first game in charge against Blackburn.
4. Juande Ramos, Tottenham: McDonald’s, fruit juice, ketchup
Tottenham’s players had grown used to popping out to a nearby McDonald’s after training before Ramos took the reins in 2007. The pragmatic Spaniard soon declared the fast-food restaurant off-limits and also dropped into the Spurs canteen to remove sauces and replace fruit juices with water.
5. Dale Vince, Forest Green Rovers (owner): Red meat
After becoming Forest Green’s majority shareholder in 2010, millionaire vegan Vince banned his playing squad from eating all types of red meat and then extended the ban to the entire stadium. The club’s fans saw their traditional favorites – meat pies, burgers and cottage pie – wiped off the half-time menu and replaced with fish, free-range poultry and lentil burgers.
