Any Mick McCarthy story is rarely short on entertainment, and this one regarding a heated Wolves altercation is no different.
It’s fair to say Wolves’ current manager, Vitor Pereira, is a level-headed individual, bar the odd sideline outburst.
The same sometimes could not be said for Mick McCarthy, and it’s one of many reasons why he’s so revered at the club.
- READ MORE: Every Vitor Pereira signing at Wolves rated, including a standout 8/10 and a disappointing 4/10
During his almost six-year stint at Molineux, he was involved in a few controversial moments, often resulting in timeless sound-bites, but in this instance, he was the mediator.
Mick McCarthy had to get between two Wolves players
Recounting tales from his time at Wolves, McCarthy landed on an argument between Jay Bothroyd and George Elokobi, that almost came to blows.
Appearing on the Under the Cosh podcast back in December, the 57-cap Irish international recalled a tense encounter which stemmed from Bothroyd commenting on Elokobi’s less-than-stellar technical ability.
Elokobi, like another Cameroonian who recently joined the club, was a mountain of a man, and McCarthy felt obliged to step in and prevent damage.
McCarthy says: “I had to stand in between them and stop it. Have you seen him? He’s a monster George. But he’s a calm monster as well. He just wanted to go and hit him without any of the shouting or the ‘I’ll break your nose’ and ‘I’ll do this, I’ll do that.’
“He just said, ‘Gaffer, I’m just gonna kill him, I’m gonna have him.’ I said, you know, George, you can’t do that!”
McCarthy managed to defuse the situation, despite the probable fear over getting caught in some rather powerful crossfire.
If McCarthy could go back…
In the years since this incident, there have been plenty of jabs between McCarthy and Bothroyd.
The striker’s exit from Wolves was far from amicable, and he has been outspoken in his dislike for his former boss. He didn’t appreciate McCarthy’s efforts to get rid of him after just two seasons.
That disdain goes two ways, judging by what McCarthy added in at the end of his story.
He wrapped up by saying: “I still wish I’d let him go now. It would have been nice to see.”
Certainly no love lost between the two.