The hobbies

Just seems to really, really like football. Things we know for sure: he has a little beard, he revisits his childhood football club, he has been known to ride a bicycle (a Dutchman? Shurely not!), he speaks to friends on the telephone, he has eaten at least one dinner in his life.

His family runs a major estate agents and financial services company, which is about as exciting as it gets.

The philosophy

Attack, attack, attack on the pitch, control, control, control off it. Expect much chat about discipline, mentality, team ethic and togetherness.

Loves an in-game tweak, the beloved criticism of a manager having “no plan B” should not apply. Is also a meticulous planner who spends hours poring over videos, but you’re the exception as a modern manager if not doing those things. They’ll take away your Uefa A licence unless you’re spending at least two nights a week sleeping at the training ground.

The soundbites

Does not lack confidence. “With the tempo that my team is playing at, at a certain stage during the game the opponent will feel finished.” That may not play well in a league obsessed with prefacing any minor criticism with “no disrespect to…” 

Unsurprisingly does not put much stock in magical thinking. “I don’t have superstitions. I believe in my team, the players on the pitch and the plan we have gone through together. They can make their own independent decisions if something changes on the pitch.”

Capable of some minor poetry too: he once described his former player Hakim Ziyech as “so skilful, like a painter”.

The demeanour

A less intense Pep Guardiola. A bit of a contrarian by all accounts but broadly seems a modest, pleasant sort. Worryingly so. 

Unruffled, usually smart, but happy to lead his squad in a team-wide hand-raise towards the fans after a win. Will also do a nice dance with them for TikTok: