As Thierry Henry and John Terry prepare to join forces and move forward as a management duo, many have started to wonder how their careers on the pitch will shape their identities as coaches off it.
Both enjoyed a wealth of success in the Premier League and are largely considered two of the finest players to have ever played in the division.
While Henry has been out of the punditry chair and learning his craft as assistant to Roberto Martinez with Belgium, Terry continued to play and only announced his retirement from the game on Sunday with the joint-venture with Henry edging ever closer.
For Aston Villa the objectives are clear: promotion back to the Premier League.
In Henry and Terry, they would be acquiring a treasure trove of knowledge having worked under bosses such as Jose Mourinho, Arsene Wenger, Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola.
The pair have made more than 1,100 top-flight appearance between them and have won trophies including league titles, FA Cups and European Cups.
Legendary Arsenal goalscorer Henry made 254 Premier League appearances and Terry 492; as far as players turning to management, the Midlands club would be signing up two of the finest around.
With 26 trophies in the cabinet between them - each with five league titles - the big challenge will be to pass on their playing successes to a Villa squad in desperate need of some inspiration.
Frank Lampard quickly discovered the size of the task in the Championship at Derby County while Steven Gerrard is slowly bringing the swagger back to Rangers after years of unrest. For Henry and assistant Terry, they are facing an equally tricky test with expectations sky-high.
Sportsmail looks at three managers for both Henry and Terry that had the biggest influence on their trophy-laden careers...
Thierry Henry
Arsene Wenger: Henry broke through as a 17-year-old at Monaco not long after Wenger left the Ligue 1 club. But having been brought in by the Frenchman from Juventus, Henry was morphed into one of the Premier League's all-time best strikers with a game that had it all.
While the Invincibles season stands out, a clear identity and a desire to stick to his footballing philosophy were staples of Wenger's reign and Henry is almost certain to want to lay down his own blue-print in similar fashion.
Jean Tigana: While he remains one of the more obscure names in the list of managers to coach Henry, the Frenchman remains grateful to Tigana at Monaco in the early years.
The Mali-born boss showed real faith in Henry and nurtured him, protecting him from burn-out by utilising him from the bench. With young players at Villa such as Jack Grealish and Tammy Abraham, his time under Tigana could well be telling in his development of the club's brightest prospects.
Pep Guardiola: Henry has been open about the fact that Guardiola completely changed the way the Frenchman looked at the game.
Describing his attention to detail as 'second to none', his time under Guardiola – which saw him win two La Liga titles and a Champions League – is likely to play a key part in Henry the manager. High intensity and fastidious, Guardiola's lasting imprint could be telling when he steps up to be No 1.
John Terry
Claudio Ranieri: Despite getting his first taste of life in the first team under Gianluca Vialli, Terry came into his own when given the chance by Ranieri. He earned his first captaincy under the Italian and also pinpointed how, when placed alongside Marcel Desailly, he was forced to develop his game and improve his left foot.
While he was young at the time, his early spell under Ranieri was critical in his development and he quickly became one of the finest defenders.
Jose Mourinho: The Portuguese arrived as ‘The Special One’ and definitely had the Midas touch when it came to Terry. Under Mourinho, Terry became one of the world’s best defenders with his ability in the air and tenacity in the tackle.
The leader in a defence that conceded just 15 goals in the 2004-05 title win, Terry excelled under Mourinho and will have learned plenty in man-management under him.
Carlo Ancelotti: Older and wiser, Terry’s game developed under Ancelotti whereby he became the reader of the game. Previously playing alongside Ricardo Carvalho in the Mourinho era, Terry was now Mr Dependable in the double-winning Ancelotti season.
The Italian likened him to AC Milan Paulo Maldini and should he take steps into management, Terry will have some of the game’s finest managers to lean on for advice.