In a recent BBC TV interview he recalled learning the game as a child on the beach at San Sebastien, playing with and against Arteta and Xabi Alonso, being inspired by the management of Ernesto Valverde and Marcelo Bielsa, and lessons in possession play from Patrick Vieira at New York City. On the touchline he can be irascible but off the field comes over as a mellow family man who likes reading, cycling and long walks. Too well-rounded, you might think, for the manic game show of top-six management.