Fulham v Tottenham Hotspur tonight sees Sir Alex Ferguson's former first team coach, Rene Meulensteen, take on Jose Mourinho's former No 2 Andre Villas-Boas. Here are five Premier League managers who followed the same path:
1. Carlos Queiroz
Taken on as assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson in 2002, after establishing a strong reputation with Portugal’s youth teams. Offered the Real Madrid head coach post in 2003, he lasted only one trophyless season in Spain, and returned to his former United post. Took Portugal to the 2010 World Cup, and now leads Iran to Brazil 2014.
2. Brendan Rodgers
Rodgers entered coaching young, and was put in charge of Chelsea's youth section by Mourinho in 2004. Watford offered him a senior post in 2008. Head hunted by Reading, he lasted a few months but, in 2011 he achieved promotion to the Premier League with a Swansea, and caught Liverpool's eye with his passing football.
3. Steve McLaren
Taken on by Ferguson ahead of United’s 1999 Treble, McClaren was popular with players. As manager of Middlesbrough, he won a League Cup and reached a Uefa Cup final. Appointed as England manager, he failed to qualify for Euro 2008. He then won the Dutch league in the first of two spells at Twente, briefly coached Wolfsburg, and now manages Derby County in the English Championship.
4. Steve Clarke
The former Chelsea player had worked as an assistant coach at Newcastle United when Mourinho promoted him from coaching youth to his deputy in 2004. Known for good man-management and tactical nous, he also had assistant roles at West Ham United under Gianfranco Zola, and at Liverpool under Kenny Dalglish, before taking over at West Brom.
5. Brian Kidd
Former Manchester United striker who worked at youth and then assistant manager level for a decade under Ferguson. Left in 1998 to become manager of Blackburn Rovers but suffered relegation from the Premier League. Returned to deputy roles at various clubs, and England before moving to Manchester City, as a youth coach then assistant.
