Former QPR boss and player Gareth Ainsworth became a football manager - not because he passed coaching badges - but because he could mutter a few words of Spanish.
The man who got two stints on the Loftus Road touchline in a mad period at Rangers took that with him to Wycombe Wanderers where he celebrated a third anniversary last week.
It made ‘Gaz’ the 11th longest serving in manager in English professional football. But he originally wanted to be ‘fizz’ with the sponge after he packed in playing.
Ainsworth was a rampaging winger for Rs between 2003-2010, but the arrival of Luigi De Canio, who managed Hoops for seven eventful months in 2007-08, re-aligned the Ainsworth path.
Italian Di Canio could also speak Spanish - but no English.
He said: “I was doing my medical qualifications at QPR and training to be a physio when Luigi came in. He didn't speak any English, and I speak a bit of Spanish because my wife is from Venezuela, so I was translating for him.
“I was translating his instruction to the rest of the boys. Luigi saw how they were responding to me, and told me I would make a good manager. So if there was one person who set me on the road to management, it is him."
When De Canio's replacement, Iain Dowie, was sacked after just five months in the job, Ainsworth took over as caretaker manager, just as he would once more when Paulo Sousa was sacked the following year.
He said: “QPR was a chaotic club at that time. The club was in turmoil and I was managing all over the place, so I made a decision to step back and stay away from it all.”
He eventually moved to a third caretaker-manager role at Wycombe following of all people, another ex QPR boss, Gary Waddock.
The latter’s departure in September 2012, led to Ainsworth being made permanent six weeks later.
He said: “By the time I came to Wycombe, I wanted to get into the coaching side of the game – I just didn't realise I would get into the management side so soon.
“It was actually a low point for me as Gary played a huge part in my career and was a friend too, but he told me to take the job as he thought I would make a fantastic manager.
“Fortunately, the chairman at the time, Don Woodward, thought I was the best man for the job too.
“When I took my first steps at QPR, Flavio Briatore and Bernie Ecclestone had just taken over, and when I took over at Wycombe, the trust had just taken over, but thankfully it wasn't as chaotic.”
Fast forward to May via a last day great escape from Football League relegation in 2014, and Ainsworth was a League Two play-off finalist at Wembley.
Wycombe lost on penalties to Southend, but the man who also played in a rock band, reckoned the day was far from a bum note.
He added: “Losing at Wembley wasn't a low point. To be able to stand in front of our fans and clap them was still a proud moment for me. No matter what happened at the end, last season was nothing but a success.”
