When it comes to motivating a team, sometimes you have to think outside the box—or, in Tony Pulis's case, outside the stadium entirely. Over his 30-year managerial career, the no-nonsense boss tried everything from hypnotists to Hollywood to get his players fired up. And while some tactics worked brilliantly, others… well, let's just say the players had other ideas.

In an era where modern managers like Mikel Arteta are praised for their innovative man-management, Pulis proves that unconventional motivation is nothing new. One of his go-to strategies? Bringing in guest speakers to address the squad before big matches. "It was something I believed could be used right through the season, as long as it was the right character who was talking," Pulis explains. And he didn't limit himself to football figures—he once brought boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard to speak to his Stoke City side.

But perhaps his most memorable—and most amusing—attempt at motivation came during his early days at Bournemouth. It was the 1993-94 season, and his side, then in what is now League One, were preparing for a League Cup clash against Premier League giants Blackburn Rovers. On the night before the first leg, Pulis arranged a special pre-match meeting with a hypnotist.

"He asked the team to sit in a circle on chairs, while he sat at the top of the room feeling—he believed—the vibes from the lads," Pulis recalls. The hypnotist then switched off all the lights and instructed the players to sit in complete silence for two minutes. But when the lights came back on? The chairs were empty. "I was amazed—he had made them all disappear!"

It turns out the players had spotted a side door and quietly slipped out in the darkness, leaving the hypnotist alone in the room. "He was great about it though, and took it all in good form," Pulis adds with a laugh. While the exercise didn't go exactly as planned, it still served its purpose: the team was relaxed, bonded, and ready to take on a Premier League giant. Sometimes, the best motivation comes from a shared laugh—even if it's at your own expense.