“You get some managers who are tactically amazing,” says Jobi McAnuff, who played for Watford in 2008 during Brendan Rodgers’ debut season as a manager. “And you get some who are better at the man-management side and don’t get too involved in the day to day coaching. Brendan seemed to be good at everything.”

Leicester are flying high in the Premier League under Rodgers, playing an entertaining, possession-based brand of football. An aggressive, quick striker leads the press, the full-backs make overlapping runs, one midfielder protects the defence while another sets the passing tempo, and possession has purpose. The system suits the players who suit the system.

But how has his style evolved during his coaching career?

Watford and Reading (2008-2009)

Inspired by the Barcelona and Ajax models, Rodgers initially introduced a possession-based 4-5-1 at Watford in the Championship, trying to steer the team away from the direct style of predecessor Aidy Boothroyd.

A tidy ball-playing midfielder linked defence with midfield, full-backs overlapped the wide forwards, and one of the 'eights' attacked space behind the striker.