Joey Barton has taken on his biggest challenge yet by making the first step into management as head coach at Fleetwood, according to the midfielder's former boss Sam Allardyce.
The 35-year-old, who was most recently at Burnley, has signed a three-year contract from June 2, when his suspension for breaking Football Association betting rules expires.
Barton, no stranger to controversy on and off the pitch, played for Allardyce at Newcastle from the summer of 2007 to January 2008 - and should now be ready to tackle a whole new ball game.
'I think he was too young at that time (when at Newcastle), he was more concerned about playing (than coaching), but as time has gone on you have seen him evolve into someone who has a big opinion and he wants to put that opinion to the test on how he would manage a football club,' said Allardyce, now in charge of Everton.