New Blackburn Rovers boss Paul Lambert has certainly put his nine months out of the game to good use.
Since his last job at Aston Villa, the Scot has been travelling around Europe, meeting some of the world's leading managers, such as Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp.Lambert spent time at Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, but felt the opportunity to take over at Blackburn was too good to turn down.
“You miss it, then you don't miss it and you start to enjoy what you're doing. In the nine months, I probably fluctuated with that feeling,” he told rovers.co.uk.
"Then there comes a spell when you think, no I'm ready and this opportunity was available and it's a great one to return to.
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"In the nine months out I had a great time, I went to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich both for five days.
"I've just got back from Leverkusen after spending a week there.
"I was at Dortmund when Jurgen Klopp was there and I went Ingolstadt, who have just been promoted to the Bundesliga.
"I met every manager and spoke with them and they were excellent. To see that at that level, it really does open your vision.
"As a manager you tend to become tunnel-visioned at times but it certainly helps you look at the game differently."
Lambert undertook his first training session yesterday and will be in the dugout for Blackburn's Sky Bet Championship match against Preston North End this weekend.