Compiling multi-page dossiers on football teams is not how your average 20-something spends his time.

But, as West Bromwich Albion boss Steve Clarke recalls, Andre Villas-Boas was not exactly your average 20-something.

Clarke was No.2 to Jose Mourinho when he first came across the young Villas-Boas some eight years ago.

His role at Stamford Bridge was to compile reports on the opposition – detailed analyses of where Chelsea could exploit their opponents.

He was, in effect, Jose’s ‘leg man’.

Villas-Boas followed Mourinho to Internazionale before going on to become manager in his own right – first at Portuguese club Académica de Coimbra, before taking over at Porto.

This Saturday the two men go head-to-head with Clarke taking charge of his second Baggies game, while AVB leads out Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane for the first time.

It’ll be familiar territory for Villas-boas – his first home game as Chelsea gaffer was against Albion last season. Chelsea won, but only just.

His period in west London was not a rewarding experience.

The young boss struggled with some of Chelsea’s more senior players, eventually being sacked following their 1-0 defeat to Albion at The Hawthorns back in March.

Clarke is not surprised to see Villas-Boas, now 34-years-old, back in top-level management with the White Hart Lane club.

“First of all you have to say that, in a short space of time, he’s had a fantastic career,” said Clarke.