By Mark Heys
August 1 2005

Bolton manager Sam Allardyce has spoken of his growing admiration for Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho in the Sunday Times this weekend. Allardyce states that the Portuguese tactician is a coach who fascinates and intruiges him, with the Wanderers chief showing nothing but praise for the Premiership winning manager who, despite his achievements, has never played the game at any top level.

"He intrigues me, What fascinates me is that he has built this great career when he was never really a footballer himself.

"That's the hard route. He's had to convince everybody he could do this job because there was no track record as a player.

"Roman Abramovich has given him the means to have the best players but he must mould them into a team and he seems to be achieving that almost immediately.

"That's not down to his coaching, that's his man management."

The much admired Allardyce, who was once a managerial target for Newcastle United, also confirmed that he would have to accept an approach from Chelsea if it was ever forthcoming.

"If Chelsea had come to me, I would have said yes. No question, You are talking about its backer creating a monster that might not be caught for the next decade, if the manager gets it right."