Loyalty counts in Gareth Southgate's world so it should not be a surprise he has invited his first manager, Alan Smith, to Wembley for this evening's defining Euro 2020 final against Italy.
Smith was Southgate's youth-team boss and mentor at Crystal Palace and the pair have remained close over five decades.
Last week, Smith posted a picture of the 1989 Palace youngsters about to embark on a training camp in Portugal.
Alan Smith believes that Gareth Southgate's experience at Crystal Palace toughened him up
The 50-year-old is one game away from winning England's first piece of silverware for 55 years
There are plenty of notables, including future England international Chris Powell, now part of Southgate's backroom team, and goalscoring goalkeeper Jimmy Glass.