Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has paid a special tribute to Roberto Mancini, declaring he'd love to see the Italy coach back in the Premier League.
Richards wrote for the Daily Mail: "I suspect some people will accuse me of bias when I talk about Roberto Mancini but my relationship with him has got nothing to do with my views. You are watching one of the world's best managers in his prime and it baffles me why, for instance, Tottenham and Everton have not targeted him.
"What separates the great managers from the good is the ability to improve a player. I remember Mancini coming into Manchester City and, by rights, he and I shouldn't have seen eye to eye as we are completely different characters, but, almost immediately, it worked.
"To play for him you have to understand his attention to detail. You have to do it as he wants because if you don't, you won't play. He is relentless, he challenges you mentally and a few people in our squad felt like they were being taken back to school by his methods.
"Mancini changed everything at City. Training was moved to late afternoon, the way we ate at the canteen was different. He would walk around inspecting what people had on their plates, and, as someone who always ate salads, used to preach the importance of a good diet.
"He would not get involved in what you were doing outside of work but could never understand why so many people liked to have a beer. The idea of drinking like that was alien to him and you only have to see how he looks now, at 56, to appreciate how seriously he took it all.
"You would see him in the gym doing sessions. He had his road bike, he would go out running. There was an 'abs' workout he used to do and he wasn't afraid to do a bit of boxing training either. The only person I know who is older and in better shape is Graeme Souness, who at 68 looks a million dollars!
"The desire to look impeccable mirrors Mancini's desire for his teams to be unbeatable. If you commit to Mancini's way and show him loyalty, he will always be there for you. He never forgets those who help him and you can see that in the make-up of Italy's coaching staff.
"It is a history lesson for me to see him standing alongside Gianluca Vialli, his old striking partner. Mancini let us all know that he was a top player in his prime — 'where is your technique?' he would ask you with a smile on his face — but never made himself untouchable.
When Mancini arrived at City, by rights, I shouldn't have seen eye to eye as we are completely different characters, but, almost immediately, it worked
"When Mancini arrived at City, by rights, I shouldn't have seen eye to eye as we are completely different characters, but, almost immediately, it worked
"When I had trouble with my knee, I had to go to Italy to see a specialist. With some managers, when you are injured you are out of sight and out of mind but Mancini rang me when I was over there. 'Are you OK? Is there anything you need? If you need me, I will fly over,' he said. It was a gesture I have never forgotten.
"Put that to one side, though, and look at his record. He won the Italian Cup with Fiorentina and Lazio, took Inter Milan to Serie A three times, and he won the Turkish Cup with Galatasaray. And I haven't even mentioned what he did for City.
"He went head to head with Sir Alex Ferguson and won. Mancini made us believe that we could climb the mountain and laid the foundations for the success you are seeing the club enjoy now. Like all the top managers, he is always tactically ahead of the game and will relish this chance with Italy.
"If England cannot win the tournament, my heart is with Italy. I will be watching the game against Austria tonight and hoping Mancini can take another major step forward."
