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When a World Cup-winning footballer leaves the glamour of Champions League competition to join a newly promoted Premier League club surrounded by footballing giants in the north-west of England, it naturally raises eyebrows.

That was exactly what happened in 2002 when former France and Inter Milan star Youri Djorkaeff was persuaded by Sam Allardyce to join his ambitious project at Bolton Wanderers.

Djorkaeff would ultimately become one of the cornerstone signings of Allardyce’s reign, playing a key role in transforming the Trotters into one of the most resilient teams in England’s top division.

“He was the best manager Bolton could have had at that time,” Djorkaeff told FourFourTwo when asked to reflect on his experience playing under Allardyce.

“He didn’t rely on an elaborate tactical system, but he had a strong sense of what the team required to remain in the Premier League.”

Instead of overwhelming his players with complex instructions, Allardyce focused on building belief within a squad that many had tipped for relegation back to the Championship.

“He gave us confidence and lifted the atmosphere in the dressing room,” Djorkaeff explained. “No team wanted to face us.”

“We were physically tough on the field, but we also had that spark of creativity with certain players – it was the perfect combination.”

At the time, Allardyce was a divisive figure in the Premier League, with his preference for direct football often criticised. Djorkaeff admitted that the long-ball reputation given to Bolton by the media wasn’t entirely unfair.

“But it was true!” he said with a grin. “At first, I argued with him.”

“I told him he couldn’t keep asking us to constantly play long balls, just hoping that Kevin Nolan or I would manage to control one well.”

“He replied, ‘That’s how we play at Bolton.’ It was demanding, but gradually we improved and began to play better football. Without question, his greatest strength was his personality and his ability to inspire the players.”

“I adjusted my game to suit what the team needed,” he concluded.