Manchester United overlooked Graham Potter for their managerial role and have since seen the Brighton boss thwart them twice.
The Englishman has seen his stock rise steadily and is beginning to be linked with major vacancies when they arise. He is into his fourth season at the Amex having previously been in charge at Swansea City. United, meanwhile, opted for Erik ten Hag when they sought a permanent replacement for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
It continues the trend of up-and-coming English managers being overlooked for the more headline appointment from abroad. Potter's lack of Champions League experience was a major factor in Ten Hag being picked over him, according to The Athletic, per Metro, yet the Brighton boss has more than demonstrated his credentials for a top job.
His only European experience thus far comes in the Europa League with Ostersund - a team whom he led to a win over Arsenal. Potter has also beaten United twice in less than four months - seeing his side score six times in the process. Back in May, he masterminded a 4-0 mauling of the Red Devils at the Amex.
Then on Sunday, despite losing key men Marc Cucurella and Yves Bissouma in the summer, Potter was able to beat the man he was overlooked for. Ten Hag's era got off to the worst possible start as the Seagulls won for the first time ever at Old Trafford to get their season off to a flyer.
Potter's quality is no secret and he was previously declared the best English coach by Pep Guardiola, who said: "We were in front of the best English manager right now. You have to be a top side to play that way."
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Ten Hag admitted Brighton "took over" at Old Trafford as the Seagulls picked apart the hosts. He said: ''It wasn't the defending. We defend as a team and we made passing mistakes that were unnecessary in the midfield, then they took over. We have to be better at organisation because we have made appointments and they have to do the job which we talked about, which they have been appointed to do.
"That is not what we did and then we got punished. The same with the second goal, it was totally unnecessary from a ball that was loose in the corner on the other side. It is not good that you then go on and concede a goal.''
Potter himself said on the historic success: “It was a fantastic effort from the players and we deserved the win over the course of the game. It’s a historic win for us so it’s something to be happy about. We had an idea about how to attack and then, when we could, we tried to press and put them under pressure. We were brave in what we did, and the boys gave everything."
