If a club appoints Steve Bruce, it's starting to become a safe bet that a shirt number should be reserved in advance for hard-running right wing back Ahmed Elmohamady.
The Egypt international signed for Aston Villa where Bruce has been manager since October 2016 on Wednesday, leaving Hull City where the former Manchester United centre half had brought Elmohamady in the first place.
And that was only the second time the duo had worked together as Bruce had initially brought Elmohamady to Sunderland back in the summer of 2010.
Where Steve Bruce goes, Elmohamady follows. It's the 3rd club they'll team up at. Got any examples of a similar player-manager dynamic? https://t.co/yIfpHGjFma
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) July 19, 2017
All of which got us thinking... as you can see in the tweet above. You sent us in your example of similar dynamics existing between a manager and an indispensable player to @OffTheBall and a few of them stood out:
Big Sam and Kevin Nolan
Nolan came through the Bolton youth ranks to first team recognition in 1999 and it was under Sam Allardyce that the Liverpudlian began that trajectory that would see him become a fixture in the first team.
While both did go on to play and manage at Newcastle United respectively during the 2000s, it wasn't at the same time.
But in June 2011, Nolan and Allardyce would join forces again at West Ham as the former signed a long term deal, days after the manager had been appointed.
Nolan's reason for joining the Hammers was pretty clear with Nolan stating that "Having the chance to link up with Sam again is a massive thing."
Harry Redknapp and a host of players
Familiarity breeds contentment for the former Tottenham, West Ham and Portsmouth boss.
Currently at Birmingham City, Redknapp has often signed players that he's worked with previously, including these notable ones that many of you also flagged:
- Nico Krancjar was brought to Portsmouth in 2006 by Redknapp, before following his manager to Tottenham three years later and then linking up together again at QPR between 2013 and 2015. With Redknapp now at Birmingham, Kranjcar has even been linked with a switch there before this summer's out.
- Jermain Defoe emerged at West Ham when Redknapp was manager there at the turn of the Millennium and then signed for 'Arry's Portsmouth in January 2008 after leaving Tottenham. But he was back at Spurs the following January when Redknapp who had taken the job there months earlier came a calling.
- Peter Crouch has also played for Redknapp at numerous clubs, including Southampton (he arrived five months before Redknapp did), Tottenham and Portsmouth.
And here are a few of your other suggestions:
Paul Cook and Rommy Boco!
— Jessica Farry (@jessicafarry) July 19, 2017
John McGovern and Brian Clough, Hartlepool, Derby, Leeds ,Notts Forest.
— Graham Whelton (@DepecheMoby) July 19, 2017
Neil Warnock signed paddy Kenny 5 times,
— Stephen Neill (@stiofanoneill) July 19, 2017
Peter Taylor signed Junior Lewis for six (I think) different sides - and then, acc to Wiki, worked as a coach with him at 2 other sides.
— Andrew Pickering (@EatMyStoke) July 19, 2017
