BLACKBURN manager Mark Hughes has admitted he would love to work with Giovanni Trapattoni one day after hailing the legendary Italian as one of Europe's finest tacticians.
Hughes has the utmost respect for the former Juventus and AC Milan chief, who is currently orchestrating a mini revolution at Red Bull Salzburg, Rovers' opponents in the first round of the UEFA Cup tonight.
The pair became close after meeting at UEFA conferences, and there was even a point several years ago, prior to Hughes' installation at Blackburn, when Tottenham tried to get them to form a managerial dream team at White Hart Lane.
Although Hughes has always remained coy about the exact details of that proposal, he did admit yesterday the idea was mooted.
And, what's more, he didn't rule out the possibility of teaming up with the 67-year-old at some point in the future, possibly at Manchester United, where he's being touted as Sir Alex Ferguson's eventual successor.
Responding to questions about the link with Spurs, the Rovers boss said: "There was some talk about that, but nothing too concrete.
"You'd have to ask other people about how genuine that interest was."
As for the prospect of hooking up with Trapattoni one day, Hughes admitted that would be something he'd be interested in exploring given the opportunity.' The mutual respect the pair have for each other can be traced back to their days as rival international managers.
Hughes was the manager of Wales, and Trapattoni the manager of Italy, when the two nations were paired together in the same qualifying group for Euro 2004.
In the first match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, Hughes masterminded one of the greatest victories in Welsh history as goals from Simon Davies and Craig Bellamy saw the Azurri (check) defeated 2-1. It was one of Hughes' finest hours in management to date.
Soon after, however, Trapattoni exacted his revenge as Italy won the return match 4-0, a result that spelled the beginning of the end of Wales' qualification hopes.
Nevertheless, that victory at the Millennium did much to rekindle Welsh spirits following a period in the international wilderness, whilst it also effectively put Hughes on the managerial map.
"It was a great night, a one-off game, and I will always remember it; a full house at the Millennium Stadium of seventy-odd-thousand, and we were up against a great team and a great manager," recalled Hughes.
"Mind you, he got his own back in the San Siro a couple of months later when we got beat 4-0.
"As we stand then it's 1-1, so something will have to give (this evening).
"But I've got a great deal of respect for Giovanni Trapattoni.
"He's been as successful as any manager there has ever been in the European leagues.
"He's been at top clubs and won trophies and titles at each club he has been involved with.
"Now he's at Salzburg, where he's already making an impact.
"He's got Lothar Matthaus alongside him, who was a fantastic player, and if you look at their two CVs together, and the amount of trophies they've won as players and managers, then you have to understand the font of knowledge Salzburg can dip into.
"But we are a good side, too, and I think we can approach tonight's game with positive thoughts.
"I've watched them on a number of occasions - I was there for their match with Rapid Vienna on Sunday - and they're a good team.
"But if we play to the level we know we can, then we can certainly get a positive result against them."
Although Hughes looks back with pride on the day he toppled Italy and Trapattoni, he insists a run in Europe with Rovers would eclipse any feelings of satisfaction he felt in the Millennium Stadium.
He added: "I wouldn't say beating Italy was my biggest achievement in football.
"That was getting this club into Europe last season, which is why I'm placing so much importance on Europe this year.
"We worked so hard to get into this competition and we don't want to go out at the first hurdle.
"It's really important to us that we progress, given the amount of effort we put in to get here in the first place."
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