Paul Lambert spent part of this year travelling around Europe and casting an eye over some of the top clubs in football.

The Scottish tactician was sacked by Aston Villa in February and decided to take some time away from the game in order to revitalise his love for the sport.

Lambert then visited such clubs as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and his former team Borussia Dortmund to spend time with such men as Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.

Now with Blackburn Rovers, 46-year-old Lambert insists he learned some valuable lessons from some of the best football men on the continent.

"The sessions these guys put on and talking to the different managers, their ways and ideas of playing, was a brilliant experience," Lambert told The Express.

"Carlo Ancelotti said to me, 'This time out of the game will be the best thing that happens to you'. He was 100 per cent right.

"I made a conscious decision when I was out the game, and talking to these guys, that I'm not going down that road again from before I left Villa. No stress now.

"I thought to myself I will never get caught up in the cauldron of management again."

Since taking the reins at Ewood Park earlier this month, Lambert has led the 14th-placed Rovers to a 2-1 win at Preston North End and a 2-2 home draw with Sheffield Wednesday.