Players who end up becoming managers often stand out in the dressing room. There is something different. It takes a degree of self-confidence to survive that feral environment, where conformity rules and deviation from the norm is suppressed ferociously.
Eddie Howe was one of those. He is being quizzed about liking the Eighties band, a-ha. ‘That’s not embarrassing!’ he insists, defiance quickly turning into laughter. ‘I’m very proud of that!’
In fact, a little probing brings more details which might have brought further disdain in the average football dressing room. ‘I do love the Eighties,’ he adds.