STEVE McClaren and Jose Mourinho have spoken of their respect for each other as they prepare to go head-to-head tomorrow in the FA Cup.
McClaren's Derby County await the arrival of Mourinho's Chelsea to the iPro Stadium for a televised third-round tie.
Mourinho is the current benchmark for managers and coaches following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement, says McClaren, who worked under Ferguson at Manchester United.
In turn, Mourinho, thinks former England boss McClaren belongs in the Premier League.
"I know Jose and we have had a few run-ins but he was very helpful when I was England manager because the majority of the players were Chelsea players, so I went to see him a few times," McClaren said.
"Jose is a players' coach. He has a philosophy, a way of working and players have to adhere to that. His relationship with his players is very, very strong.
"That is his strength as well as obviously all the games he has assessed and analysed.
"You don't win titles and the Champions' League without doing that.
"He is the benchmark, I suppose. Sir Alex Ferguson always was the benchmark, Jose is now.
"If you can achieve as much as he has you will be some coach."
Mourinho has won league titles in Portugal, England, Italy and Spain, and the Champions' League with Porto and Inter Milan.
He was close to succeeding McClaren as England manager in late 2007, following his own departure from Chelsea and prior to the appointment of Fabio Capello.
"I was almost there when I left Chelsea but after that no more chances," said Mourinho.
"I'm happy to play against Steve, I'm happy to think back. I'm happy with his success in Holland with FC Twente.
"With full respect for the Championship, where very good managers are, I think Steve belongs to a different level. Hopefully he's back to the Premier League soon. I'll be happy with that."
Mourinho leads 3-1 in the head-to-head meetings with McClaren. The four times they have locked horns in English football came when McClaren was manager at Middlesbrough.
The first meeting of the two in September 2004 ended in a 1-0 Chelsea win at Middlesbrough.
"Didier Drogba scored quite late on and he (Mourinho) was highly delighted," McClaren recalled.
"I had one of my best days and best performances when I was at Middlesbrough when we beat Chelsea 3-0 (February 2006).
"I always quote that week as being a typical week in football.
"We lost 4-0 to Aston Villa in the previous home league game and I had season tickets thrown in my face. The following Saturday we beat Chelsea 3-0 and the team gets a trophy for 'performance of the week'.
"That is how crazy football is and how quickly it can change."
