Walter Zenga loves to learn from the top bosses

Having last month made clear his knowledge of Wolves during his first press conference as the club's head coach, the Italian has now revealed himself to be a student of Brian Clough, on the eve of Burton's visit to Molineux

Shaking the hand of Brewers boss Nigel, the son of his idol, is something he will consider an honour.

To a then teenage Zenga, the achievements of Clough the elder with Nottingham Forest were something quite magical and sparked an interest in the hows, whys and what-fors of football management which still burns as brightly now as it did then. When recalling this week how he watched Forest win back-to-back European Cups, his eyes light up and a broad smile breaks across his face.

"That was fantastic," he says. "I read a lot of books about his history and what he did, not only in Nottingham, what he did at Derby and elsewhere.

"Even the Damned United! It is a fantastic book and film. It is the 1970s, 40 years ago and it is still like today, the discussion between the managers and owners about how they buy the players. It is just like today."

For Zenga, Clough was an English manager beyond compare.

"In my opinion he is the best manager England has ever had," he says. "The problem is he never became coach of the national team and that is strange.

"His career was amazing, fantastic. The style which approached his career, both him and Peter Taylor.

"They did a great job wherever they went. The first time they were separated, it was a disaster."

To dismiss this all as mere fandom would be wrong. On the contrary, Zenga sees learning about other managers and their methods as a key part of his job.

These are still very early days at Molineux for the 56-year-old and there is still a sense players, fans and even the media are still getting to know the club's new head coach. Whether Zenga will be a success or failure at Wolves, it is impossible to say. What certainly can't be questioned is a serious passion for his trade.

"A friend from Italy has just bought me a book about Mourinho and Guradiola and I have read several books about Ferguson," he explains. "This is our job, not only to watch the game or to take training but to read the story about the manager and how they develop the club and the job.

"You can learn a lot of things. In my opinion, one dinner with a big coach or between coaches is the best lesson you can take. You can share your experience without going into details about the system and how to play. Talking about a coach and understanding their philosophy is fantastic for me. All the time I try to look and see something inside."

The words of several players would indicate Zenga's own philosophy has gone down rather well at Compton Park but the challenge now facing the head coach will be in keeping every member of a now large and talented squad heading in the same direction.

"Of course, I am new in this country and I know I have to learn a lot," he said.

"I know when I signed the contract there could be doubts about my position and other things.

"But I am confident in my job. I am confident in my passion. I am confident in my approach. All the rest is consequence."