Nicky Hunt has reflected on one of Bolton Wanderers' golden era under former boss Sam Allardyce in the Premier League and revealed the secrets to his former manager's success with the Whites.
Hunt came through the youth team ranks at Wanderers and made more than 160 appearances for the club after making his debut in 2001. His time at the Whites coincided with a string of top half finishes in the top flight under Allardyce.
It also included a couple of campaigns in Europe in the UEFA Cup, under Allardyce and later Gary Megson. Allardyce left Wanderers in 2007 towards the conclusion of the 2006/07 campaign.
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Hunt has now spoken on the strengths of Allardyce in those early 2000s where the club had some of its best moments in its history, as well as the numerous high profile sides they encountered while in European competition. And the defender believes the sustained success Wanderers had was 'unheard of' for the size of the club, as well as pointing to the technical and sports science based approach which Allardyce employed and Hunt feels his former boss does not get enough credit for.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Hunt said: "He had an aura. He was a man to be reckoned with but he was incredibly approachable which I found helpful as a young lad. He was direct in what he wanted from each player, but also how players behaved away from the pitch.
"He had a presence about him where if you did something wrong, he'd let you know. It was sink or swim in a way but also, and I don't think he gets enough credit for this, he was ahead of his time. He used all kinds of stats, such as physical stats, psychological stats. We had an in-house psychologist, masseurs, a cryo-therapy chamber.
"This was around about the time when Arsenal had won the league and were doing similar things. Sam obviously saw it and must have there was something in this and the owner and chairman invested a lot of money in it.
"But it paid off, because of the amount of times we finished in the top half in the Premier League over those years. It was unheard of for such a small club.
"It was great in those European games, playing away at Sporting Lisbon, Atletico Madrid. But I remember once we went to Red Star Belgrade and played in one of the most hostile atmospheres I've ever played under.
"We had the army taking us out from the changing room because there had been a big political break-out literally days before the game was scheduled. We had security guards around us at all times, flares were getting chucked on the pitch. It was just incredibly hostile but we got the result - it was a 1-0 win I think, thanks to a goal from Gavin McCann."
Allardyce was able to assemble as array of big names at Wanderers, including the likes of Jay-Jay Okocha, Youri Djorkaeff, Ivan Campo, Stelios Giannakopoulos and Fernando Hierro. Though Hunt has undoubted admiration for the skill and tricks of Okocha, he felt former Real Madrid man Hierro was the best player he played with and he is grateful for being in the same dressing room as a youngster with such legendary figures in the game.
"Okocha was brilliant, with his passing range and tricks - but as an entire package Hierro is the best I played with, I'd have to say. He wasn't there long but his whole aura, his professionalism and experience was invaluable," he said.
"He was really approachable but also really interested in how us lot came through the academy and our individual stories. He showed what a first class guy he was.
"We weren't under any illusions - most of these players were coming towards the end of their careers rather than being in their peek. But the likes of Ivan, Youri and Jay-Jay were great and what Sam did was go and fly out personally to meet them.
"I don't think they would have signed without that personal touch. They must have felt really wanted by that. As a 19-year-old kid it was great for me to be sat in that dressing room watching whatever rituals they do, and see how they prepare."
