It is a feature of the managerial merry-go-round that some managers get attached to certain players and bring them to their latest club. Chris Makin was such a player, starting out under Joe Royle at Oldham and rejoining him at Ipswich; and having then played for George Burley at Portman Road, he rejoined him not only at Derby but again – by now 33 – at Southampton. There were other clubs along the way for Mancunian Makin.

A nimble two-footed full-back,

Chris had been at the Centre of Excellence of his home-town United before he joined Oldham. And he’d then left Boundary Park for the south of France, taking advantage of the recent Bosman ruling. Returning to England, he kept on the move, not only among his admiring ex-managers, until Championship Southampton provided his final stop in the Football League. As if his age were not likely to be a limit enough on his length of stay, a hip-injury led to his being advised to retire in 2008. Since then, Makin has worked in property management, looking after the properties he invested in during his playing days and he also works as a sports analyst and commentator for Qatar broadcaster Al-Kass TV.