Once you have experienced an atmosphere like that as a manager, theres no turning back - your hooked!

Watching the game last night, Spurs against Red Star Belgrade at the Marakana, brought back memories of one of the highlights of my coaching career, so far. In 2013, with player/manager Hermann Hreiearsson starting, I was put in charge of my first Europa League game – IBV away at Red Star Belgrade. What a night! 

If my memory serves me correctly, it was Red Star′s first European game for 6 years and despite them being against an unknown team from Iceland, in a Europa League qualifier, the atmosphere was electric; 35,000+ attendance in that cauldron, felt like 100,000! Definitely a world away from the 1/2000 people you would get at an Icelandic fixture. I remember the noise being so great, I was only able get messages across to my full back and winger, as none of the other players could hear. Unbelievable support! Unfortunately, we went on to lose 2 – 0, but by no means were we disgraced. In fact, we actually scored a goal that was never given, where the goalkeeper fumbled the ball and with todays technology, a goal would definitely been given (as TV replays confirmed the ball had crossed the line). At 2 – 1 we would have been in danger of causing a major shock.

Once you have experienced something like that as a coach, or manager: a european night in front of that crowd, in that atmosphere, there is no turning back, if you weren't already - you are hooked!