When I look at Michael Laudrup, I don't see the Dane's face staring back at me. I see another naturally gifted footballer - possibly the best of his generation - one who turned into a manager of the highest calibre with one of the world's biggest clubs.
When I look at Swansea City's boss these days, I see Johan Cruyff. They were both wonderful players and the similarities as managers are stacking up.
Just like Cruyff, Laudrup has an aura. And there are similarities between what is happening at Swansea and what Cruyff did while Laudrup was a player under him at the Nou Camp.
There was nothing over-complicated about the Barcelona team who won the European Cup in 1992. They were simply good players who were relaxed and confident in themselves, their colleagues and the system they were playing.
In my experience, managers who have played at a high level don't look into the game too deeply. They don't need to do that.
There is an understanding of top players, of what makes them tick. Cruyff had it. Laudrup has picked up on that and run with it as a manager.
It is entirely understandable that the Swansea boss is being looked at by Real Madrid, where Laudrup played from 1994 to 1996. I know they are looking at him. There is interest. But would Laudrup want to break one of football's perfect marriages?
I don't know. Management is funny. The chance to manage Real Madrid doesn't come along too often. And, as happened when I left Sociedad for Madrid, you can always go back. I spoke to Michael a number of times while we were working as pundits on television.
He is a man of principle. He had issues at Mallorca. He wanted to quit but wouldn't walk out after a defeat. He waited until the team had won a game.
And where are Mallorca these days? Struggling. But while I believe Laudrup could manage in Madrid - and be very good at it - no praise is too high for Swansea City's directors.
And, much as I am enjoying Swansea's success, I have to say that it's been coming. Thirty years ago it was different. When I took charge, the Swans were in the Fourth Division.
But we had three diamonds - John Curtis, Jeremy Charles and the late Robbie James, God bless him. I used those players as the basis for our success and was promised £50,000 to spend after we were promoted. I brought two players in and gave the chairman £10,000 back.
Imagine that happening these days. We eventually came a cropper in the First Division. With five games to go, we were top.
But we ran out of steam - mind you, that train had been running for three-and-a-half years. For us, it was a ride on a magic carpet.
In that respect, it has been similar for the current side. And under the stewardship of chairman Huw Jenkins, Martin Morgan and the others, there is no reason why Swansea's success should end. What cost the club all those years ago was that we didn't have the security they enjoy these days. It's security they have worked for, mind you - and planned for.
The Swansea's midfielder, who has played an integral part in the club's rise through the four divisions, has been tipped for an England cap.
'He's a terrific player,' said Toshack. 'But I wonder if, at the age of 30, international football has passed him by. I think as a team Swansea operate better than their individual talents suggest.
'That includes Wayne Routledge, who has found it difficult to settle at a number of clubs but is playing his best football at Swansea.'
They will not waste the money from Liverpool for Joe Allen and Brendan Rodgers. It will be used to improve the club.
And what great strides they have taken. I walked into the club offices two weeks ago and saw all these people working away.
I don't know why I was surprised, but I was. It was a far cry from when Dolly, the lovely old girl who lived in the house next door to the Vetch Field, would make egg on toast for the players after training.
And now the club have qualified for Europe, which is wonderful. It's an achievement and should be celebrated, despite the heavy workload it brings. I've seen it happen to teams in Spain.
There is a minimum of six matches before Christmas, if you get through the qualifying campaign. Tony Pulis has commented about the negative impact it had on Stoke's Premier League campaign.
And it's true - an awful lot of planning needs to go into how you deal with the Europa League. But, let's face it, if you can't enjoy that challenge - playing in Europe after winning your first major trophy - what's the point?
And surely it is better to be planning for all the trappings that success brings than trying to fight your way out of the lower leagues. Swansea City have been there once. I don't envisage a return any time soon.
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