Old Crystal Palace team-mates Gareth Southgate and Chris Coleman will lead England and Wales into World Cup qualifiers next weekend.
Few believed they would enjoy a successful career in football, let alone go on to play for and manage their countries.
Alan Smith, manager and friend for 30 years, gives Sportsmail's JOE BERNSTEIN his insight into why both men have risen to positions of importance... and why he had to give the future England manager a dressing down!
'Gareth has always had a presence about him but in a different way,' says Alan Smith, explaining why the England manager has spent most of his career in leadership roles.