When a World Cup winner gives up Champions League football to move to a newly promoted Premier League side situated among the game’s giants in the north west of England, eyebrows are always going to be raised.
And that was exactly the case when former France and Inter Milan great Youri Djorkeaff was wooed by Sam Allardyce’s project at Bolton Wanderers in 2002.
Djorkaeff would go on to be one of the defining signings of Allardyce’s tenure at the club, helping establish the Trotters as one of the hardest teams to beat in the top flight.
Djorkaeff on working with Big Sam
“He was the best manager Bolton could have had at that time,” he tells FourFourTwo as he is asked to reflect on his time working under Allardyce.
“He didn’t have an elaborate tactical strategy, but he had a clear vision of what the team needed to stay in the Premier League.”
Rather than overloading his players with information and overcomplicating his approach, Allardyce worked to create belief in a squad that was one of the favourites to drop back down to the second tier.
“He gave us confidence and lifted the dressing room,” Djorkaeff continues. “Nobody wanted to play against us.
“We were tough on the pitch and we had a bit of magic with certain players – the perfect formula.”
Allardyce was a Marmite figure in the Premier League at the timer, with his direct style of play often criticised, with Djorkaeff admitting that there was more than a grain of truth to the long-ball label attached to the side by the media at the time.
“But it was true!” he says with a smile. “At first I argued with him.
“I told him he couldn’t keep asking us to constantly play long balls, just hoping Kevin Nolan or I would get a decent touch.
“He replied: “That’s how we play at Bolton.” It was tough, but little by little we improved and started playing better football. Without a doubt, his greatest strength was his personality and ability to convince the players.
“I adapted my game to what we needed.”