IF there is one mantra former Whites manager Sam Allardyce has taught players he has worked with over the years, it is to always surround yourself with good people.
And one of his old charges, Mike Whitlow, admits he could not have been in the company of many better footballers than during his six years with Wanderers.
Rejected by the Whites as a teenager, the defender returned a decade later to be a part of the 2001 play-off winning side that took Wanderers back into the top-flight.
But even now, at the age of 45, the Northwich-born left-back finds it surreal as to who Allardyce managed to snare for that late 1990s-early 2000s squad.
He said: “I was a kid who grew up playing Sunday and then semi-pro league football and there I was in the dressing room with players like Ivan Campo, Jay Jay Okocha and a World Cup winner in Youri Djorkaeff.
“It was surreal really, but a fantastic experience.
“Djorkaeff was a true legend for me, both on and off the field.
“He had a superb footballing brain but also earned total respect off it because he was a nice, genuine guy.
“He wasn’t alone; we had people like Gudni Bergsson who was so committed to Bolton I am surprised he is not still cemented at the Reebok.
“Sam was very clever and brought in the right mix of players.
“There were class acts like Youri and Jay Jay, who had the thought and movement and others, like myself, were the main leaders out there.
“It was such a great time and gave me one of my proudest moments and that was when I picked up the Players’ Player of the Year award ahead of those big names.
“I was blessed to have a second opportunity to play for Bolton and work under Sam.
“We went into games so well prepared because of him.
“I remember my debut was against Manchester United and up against David Beckham but Sam sent me out full of confidence. It was like that every match.”
Whitlow still lives by the same philosophy now he has moved into coaching as Head of Youth at Burton Albion.
He has now surrounded himself by good people on his staff.
But while he remains full of admiration for Allardyce, he is adamant he does not want to manage at senior level like his mentor; he is perfectly happy teaching the next generation of Whitlows and, hopefully, Djorkaeffs.
Whitlow added: “I learnt a lot from my time playing under Sam and it has helped, though I did not realise there would be so much paperwork and office stuff to do.
“But there is not a chance of me being a senior manager like him; I am quite happy coaching kids.
“I have always done that from my first coaching job at Mansfield and then at Derby.
“I love being out there on the pitch coaching and with young players, you have something of a blank canvas.
“I had the chance at Burton to start from scratch and that has been great.
“Young players always want an opportunity and will give you their best to get that.
“I was fortunate that I got a break after leaving Bolton and went on to play for 17 years at places like Leeds where I learnt a lot from Mervyn Day.
“I was a kid who was a defender but had looked up to skilful players like Glenn Hoddle and Kenny Dalglish and youngsters are just the same these days.
“They all want to play and it is up to the coaches to harness that talent the right way.
“I love my job, I really do. I wake up every day and look forward to going into work and doing what I think is a worthwhile job for a former professional.
“And when you see your lads progress, it is even more satisfying.
“Our first-team gaffer has handed some of the young players their debuts this season and that shows the others the rewards on offer, like it does at every club.”
The hope is that some of those young players at Burton get the break Whitlow did and go on to pick up League Cup and play-off winners medals and play for a club like Wanderers where Whitlow says he enjoyed some of his best football.
He said: “I was a bit too young at Leeds but had good times at Leicester.
“But Bolton stands out for me and I still have so much affinity for the club.
“Even now, 10 years on, I get treated so well back at the Reebok. Every year I take a group of my kids there and Andrew Dean sorts out a trip around the ground for us.
“It is great because I always tell the lads what nice memories I have of Bolton and then they see for themselves what a great football club it is.”
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