Blackburn Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has managed El-Hadji Diouf both at Bolton and now Rovers and believes a mutual respect has built up between them. The Senegalese star has been involved in his fair-share of controversy during his time in England, and after flopping at Liverpool - Allardyce gambled on him taking him to Bolton.
When Allardyce took the Blackburn job, he was reunited with Diouf and the 29-year-old is one of the first names on his team-sheet.
"It's not that he's scared of me, but I think he respects me and I respect his ability," said Allardyce.
"It's about 'can you handle him? He's quite a jovial, pleasant lad but he has spells where he loses his cool and makes trouble for himself.
"He's a bit of a Jack the lad and can get carried away. Now he's maturing somewhat and long may it continue.
"I tell him about the stuff he has to be careful about, how he portrays himself with his clothes. He has some of the worst gear you've ever seen.
"Some of the colours, the big chains and big belts - you can't miss him from three miles away. He's still doing that, though I don't think he's flashing around the Manchester nightclubs like he used to.
"He was never going to lose his image completely but he hasn't got himself in trouble for years now, on or off the field."
