There is irresistible evidence that signing coaching talent from Spain's northern coast brings guaranteed success. Arsenal, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Chelsea need no convincing. In international terms, European and world champions Spain are coached by a Basque, Luis De La Fuente. Club terms, double Champions League winners PSG dance to the tune of another north-coast Spaniard, Luis Enrique. The reigning Europa League holders and English champions owe their success to Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta, who grew up within a few miles of one another in San Sebastián.

Now four of England's great clubs will all be jostling for trophies under coaches who all learned at one amateur Gipuzkoa football club. Arteta, Emery, Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso have enjoyed jaw-dropping coaching success. They share an identical development path, often criss-crossing experiences in their home town of San Sebastián.

The amateur club is Antiguoko, which can claim partial responsibility for Bournemouth earning their first ever UEFA qualification, for Bayer Leverkusen winning their only Bundesliga title, and for Arteta bringing Arsenal their first Premier League trophy in 22 years.

There's no magic formula, just ideology, hard work, decades of development and attention to detail. Kids aren't allowed to belong to a single club until they're 10, mixing with other sports like basketball and volleyball before specializing.