A firm fans favourite at each club he played for, John made his name at Celtic from where he earned a free transfer to the South of France with Monaco where he was able to learn from Jean Tigana - the man who later brought him to Fulham.

Since retiring from Fulham three years ago, John has spent time with his family and gained some perspective on what he sees in his future, with a step back into football high on the agenda.

John Collins told TheFA.com: “I’m looking to go into management quite soon, although I have really enjoyed my time out of football spending time with my family so it will have to be exactly the right job to bring me back.

"The things I have learned on this course I will certainly take it into my management career -  and I’m really looking forward to the challenge.

"It has been the quickest year of my life; I can’t believe it has been 12 months since I was here starting the course. It has been rewarding and I have learned a lot, I am sure I will stand me in good stead."

And John is sure that the experience he has gained abroad will come into play as he finds his way in football coaching.

"You take a club like a Monaco and the size of the city and I'm a still amazed by how many world class players they have produced over the years. They have always been very forward thinking in the ideas they have and the way they bring players through.

"I certainly learned a lot there and I think that many of the ideas they had are becoming more and more part of football, and that is reflected very well in this course.

“Before it was mainly a sport but now with the television involvement and newspapers, dealing with players and agents, and the board of directors. You have to react staff and sell players - it's a big, big job but one that I'm looking forward to."

John paid tribute to the the content and delivery of the course at Warwick University, where he took his first steps towards football management in achieving the Pro Licence.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish it has been very interesting indeed. It covered important subjects like handling players, the media, psychology, motivation.

“In all the subjects there was a lot of interesting chat there, and most importantly you all have different opinions and ideas. The guys doing the presentations have been excellent really enjoyable.

“You pick up little bits here and there and there have been nice guys on the course have been great, and The FA staff have been great."

With that work continuing to reap its rewards at all levels of the game, John is also sure that the future of coaching in England is secure.

“There is a foundation of good young coaches now. They have the opportunity and coming coaches and managers are so important as the older managers start to drift out of the game," he told us.

“It is a tremendous help and there is no doubt that it is going to make you a better coach with the more tools you have the more likely you are to be a success.”