Burnley manager Sean Dyche has welcomed Joey Barton into the managerial ranks, praising his former midfielder as 'a student of the game'.
Barton will take over League One side Fleetwood in June, as soon as he completes a Football Association ban for gambling.
That was the final controversy in a colourful playing career for the 35-year-old, whose tendency to become involved in distasteful incidents on and off the field often overshadowed his sporting abilities.
But he also cultivated a more cerebral persona, appearing on Question Time, quoting philosophy on Twitter and engaging in a variety of issues away from football.