West Brom defender Sebastien Pocognoli knows all about Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal, having won the Dutch league title under him while at AZ Alkmaar in 2008-09.
"I was very young when I went to AZ Alkmaar, I was 19 years old, and I worked for two years under him,"
Pocognoli told the official West Brom website.
"He helped my formation as a footballer, pass-control-pass, tactically, because defensively I was not so strong. And also my personality because he likes players with personality.
"He's not only a good trainer but he's also a good human being. I learn a lot from every trainer I work under, as I am now under Mr Irvine.
"For me, he (Van Gaal) was very important because I was young. I don't know if I worked with him now whether I would be the same, but when I was 19/20 years of age, all that he said I tried to do."