John Sitton gained cult status when he threatened his Leyton Orient players in the 1990s, but unlike Fiorentina manager Delio Rossi, he didn't hit them.
Adem Ljajic, rejected by Manchester United in 2009 after he was initially signed, bore the brunt of Rossi's fury during Wednesday's 2-2 draw with Novara.
Substituted after just 32 minutes, the Serbian appeared to show dissent at his withdrawal, so took a physical beating from his manager. Rossi has now been sacked.
Viola president Andrea Della Valle said in a statement on the club's official website: "In a few seconds months of stress came out. I am sorry because the coach has never committed acts of this kind. For his own good to make him understand he has made a mistake I had to take this decision. No provocation justifies this reaction."
"Also for respect of the person with whom I believed in to reconstruct Fiorentina I will say nothing official until tomorrow," he added.
The video shows Rossi attacking Ljajic as he took his place on the bench. The 20-year-old seemed to sarcastically clap his coach's decision to substitute him, so Rossi responded by throwing punches as others on the bench attempted to restrain him.
"We will also take proportionate measures against Ljajic," confirmed Della Valle.
"Rossi has not justified it to me but he is someone who has never done anything like this.
"I am sorry also that in the 10th year of my reign and with what he has brought - we have won at Milan and Roma and I believed this evening we would have achieved safety, certainly not that I would have to take a decision like this."
Fiorentina, Champions League round-of-16 participants just two years ago, are fighting to retain their Serie A status, and their draw on Wednesday evening has put them six points clear of the relegation zone with two games remaining.
