Eleven years ago, Tony Popovic read Craig Bellamy's autobiography as he searched for inspiration.
Then, as Melbourne Victory coach six years later, he experienced the Melbourne Storm coach's brilliant intensity in the flesh.
Popovic is famously meticulous, detail-oriented and determined to improve himself and those around him every day.
Sound familiar?
A man who counts Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Guus Hiddink among his influences, Popovic lights up when he, unprompted, brings up one of his biggest inspirations.
"I was fortunate to spend time with Craig Bellamy and you see the work that he's done," Popovic told AAP.
"You talk about meticulous -
that's what you call meticulous.
"Each pre-season, I'd see him - he's driven to do even better than the last year and thinking about new ways of making the team better.
