Nigel Pearson and 5 other explosive managerial rants from the Premier League

Just when Leicester City's exploits on the pitch was becoming the most talked about aspect of the club again, Nigel Pearson has swiftly pulled the spotlight back on himself with his bizarre ostrich rant at a journalist following his side's 3-1 defeat to Chelsea.

We have lost count of the incidents where the Foxes boss has sparred with reporters and broadcasters this season. But where does his latest instalment rank above these Premier League favourites?

Rafa Benitez in Fact-gate

When Rafa Benitez pulled his carefully prepared notes out of his jacket pocket and proceeded to reel off facts explaining why Sir Alex Ferguson has the FA, the country and modern civilisation in his pocket, the Spaniard reserved his spot on lists such as these for the rest of time.

In January 2009, Liverpool sat atop of the Premier League at the time of their manager's speech –where he suggested United were handed favourable fixtures and were exempt from the rules of the Respect campaign. By the end of the month, they were third, five points behind league leaders United.

Benitez was back on these shores in 2012 to manage Chelsea following the departure of Roberto di Matteo. The former Liverpool boss was a unpopular choice from day one at Stamford Bridge and further warmed himself to the club later that season after hitting out at the club for handing him the title of "interim" manager and claiming the fans could end up costing the club a top-four finish with their lack of support for him. Outstanding effort on both counts.

Kevin Keegan loves it

The Premier League rant prototype. The mid-1990s were a good time to be a Newcastle fan. In February 1996, the Magpies held a 12-point lead over title rivals Manchester United at the start of February. Ferguson was again at the centre of this one, accusing Leeds United – who Ferguson's side had just scraped past with a 1-0 win – of only bothering to show up against their old rivals.

With his Newcastle side playing Leeds in their next game, Keegan believed Fergie's comments were nothing but a not-so-sly attempt to fire up the Yorkshire side and, well, you know the rest...

Joe Kinnear v the national press

Returning to management in 2008 to "save" a Newcastle side spiralling out of control under Mike Ashley, the former Wimbledon boss did not wait long to take exception to the media coverage of the club.

Following reports his side team were given a day off during the week, Kinnear called out Simon Bird of the Daily Mirror and Niall Hickman of the Daily Express. The expletive-ridden exchange that followed included 36 variations of f**k, five uses of c**t, a smattering of B-words and very little about Newcastle United.

Kenny Dalglish clashes with Geoff Shreeves

After the incident where Luis Suarez was charged with racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra and banned for eight games, the next meeting between the two sides in February 2012 was never going to be a quiet affair.

Suarez refusing to shake the hand of the Frenchman pre-match ignited a venomous afternoon and Sky Sports' Geoff Shreeves would press Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish on the incident post-match. The Scot initially played dumb but when asked on whether action would be taken against the Uruguayan, Shreeves was told he was "bang out of order", inferring Sky's coverage of the game fuelled the tension between players.

The Liverpool boss later expressed his regret over the confrontational interview.

Anything from Paolo di Canio over the past four years

Any number of Paolo Di Canio rants could have made this list, His explanation as to why he hauled Swindon Town goalkeeper Wes Foderingham off after 21 minutes in 2012 and his reaction to being sent to the stands in a match against Macclesfield Town earlier that year would have been decent shouts.

But we have opted for the 24-minute character assassination of members of Sunderland dressing room in 2013, in particular Phil Bardsley, after photos of the defender swimming in £50 notes on a night out emerged in the press.