SAM Allardyce and Owen Coyle’s footballing ideals may be regarded as polar opposites in some quarters, but a man who has worked with them both says they may not be so different after all.

While Blackburn Rovers boss Allardyce has found it hard to shake off a largely unfair reputation for supposed ‘route one football’ in recent times, his Burnley counterpart is renowned for an attacking, passing style – no matter who the opposition.

Time will tell who will win the tactical battle at Ewood Park on Sunday, as the two managers go head to head for the first time.

But Gudni Bergsson believes both have ostensibly built successful managerial careers on the same characteristics – enthusiasm and an ability to get the best out of those they work with.

The long-serving former Bolton defender is one of a select few to have worked with both men, having played alongside Coyle during Bolton’s days at Burnden Park in 1995 before spending four years under Allardyce’s tutelage at the Reebok Stadium.

And, like most in football, the Icelander holds great respect for both men.

“Obviously I worked longer with Big Sam,” said Bergsson. “He was great to work with, a players’ manager if you like – a larger than life character.

“You couldn’t help be inspired by his enthusiasm and his approach to the game in general.

“I think he certainly stakes claim to be the best manager I worked with.

“Most players appreciated his approach and he treated people in the same way. You knew what you had with him and that if you’ve done your job and worked hard, he was always on your side.

“And Owen was a fantastic lad. He was a good, bubbly character. He was always positive, worked hard and was honest in his approach. I think he has probably taken that with him into management.

“At the time I didn’t really give that much thought about whether he would become a manager, but he was certainly never short of words!

“In that respect he was perhaps one of the players you could see making the grade and becoming a manager.

“I think he is similar perhaps to Big Sam – his enthusiasm and his approach, you can see that rubbing off on to the players. I’m sure that the players really want to play for him.

“If you’ve got that togetherness in the squad, you stand a good chance and they’ve certainly got that.”

Bergsson has followed the careers of both since returning to Iceland following his retirement, and he sees similarities between Coyle’s Burnley and the side the Scot played in his Bolton days.

Then, Coyle helped Bolton reach the Premier League but moved back to Scotland as the Trotters tumbled towards relegation, following the loss of manager Bruce Rioch to Arsenal.

Bergsson said: “I can see certain signs at Burnley from when Bolton were emerging in our time there under Bruce Rioch with Colin Todd as number two.

“We wanted to play good passing football with pacy wingers, we wanted to go on the attack and I think his approachin the Premier League with his resources at Burnley, is the same.

“It’s a family with old traditions and you can really see the camaraderie and unity. And I think they can stay up, even though we didn’t.

“I’m pleased to see Sam back in football, too, although obviously Blackburn were our local rivals!

“His approach for a derby will be that you have to close people down and win the midfield battle.

“If you do that, then you can knock the ball about and play your football.”

Only one player, David Edgar, has played under the management of both Allardyce, at Newcastle, and with Coyle, at Burnley.

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