Marco Silva's appointment as Hull City manager in January was questioned by many and although he couldn't save Hull from the drop, Silva was given the chance to take charge of Watford in May and he's taking that chance emphatically.
Silva didn't exactly enjoy a glittering playing career; largely plying his trade in the lower-leagues of Portuguese football.
His longest spell at a club was with Estoril; where he joined in 2005 and remained until he decided to hang up his boots in 2011. However his association with the Cascais-based club didn't end there.
Towards the end of his playing career, Silva was asked to be involved with the coaching of the team and the board were clearly impressed with his leadership qualities because they decided to appoint him as Director of Football after his retirement.
Marco Silva always had a burning ambition to go into management and was given that opportunity two months into the 2011-2012 season. The Canaries decided to fire manager Vinicius Eutropio after an underwhelming start to the season and appointed Silva as boss.
After losing just three in 24, Silva and Estoril achieved promotion to the top-flight after a seven-year absence.
In their first season back at the highest level of Portuguese football, Silva's side achieved a fifth-place finish and qualified for the Europa League. A remarkable achievement.
It wasn't a one-season fluke though because Estoril went one better the following season by finishing fourth and only narrowly missing out on the Champions League.
His work didn't go unnoticed. He was appointed Sporting Lisbon boss in 2014 and guided them to a third-place finish before moving to Olympiacos.
Silva left Olympiacos in June 2016 for 'personal reasons' and just over six months later took up the challenge of trying to keep struggling Hull City in the Premier League.
Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson lambasted the Tigers' hierarchy for appointing Silva; claiming Silva's "not got a clue". He's been proving the critics wrong ever since.
Silva is now with Watford and has enjoyed a successful start to the 2017-18 campaign; yielding 18 points from his team's opening 12 games, achieving an impressive 2-1 win against Arsenal and a credible 3-3 draw with Liverpool in the process.
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How has he done it? The same way he's done it throughout his career, claims Silva: "I started off with a small club in Portugal [Estoril], and achieved big things with offensive football. And then after I worked in two big clubs [Sporting Lisbon & Olympiacos] again with offensive football."
The Portuguese coach's philosophy has always been to put a team out that can play attractive, attacking, full-throttle football.
"We try to play, face-to-face with these teams, try to play offensive football with mobility as well. That is our philosophy." the Portuguese coach stated whilst chatting with Sky Sports' Geoff Shreeves last month.
Silva has also picked up a knack of finding bargains in the transfer market. His successful Estoril team was largely made up of free transfers and loan deals.
He's also brought Brazilian trickster Richarlison to Watford for £11.2m; a talented footballer who has looked like one of the most impressive players in the Premier League so far this season. Silva seems to possess the ability to find top-class players than no one else can find.
Silva is a manager that many think can go to the very top; which is probably why Everton are very keen on bringing him to Goodison Park. Watford fans will be desperately hoping that the former Sporting Lisbon manager doesn't jump ship and continues the work that he has started with the Hornets.
Silva didn't exactly enjoy a glittering playing career; largely plying his trade in the lower-leagues of Portuguese football.
His longest spell at a club was with Estoril; where he joined in 2005 and remained until he decided to hang up his boots in 2011. However his association with the Cascais-based club didn't end there.
Towards the end of his playing career, Silva was asked to be involved with the coaching of the team and the board were clearly impressed with his leadership qualities because they decided to appoint him as Director of Football after his retirement.
Marco Silva always had a burning ambition to go into management and was given that opportunity two months into the 2011-2012 season. The Canaries decided to fire manager Vinicius Eutropio after an underwhelming start to the season and appointed Silva as boss.
After losing just three in 24, Silva and Estoril achieved promotion to the top-flight after a seven-year absence.
In their first season back at the highest level of Portuguese football, Silva's side achieved a fifth-place finish and qualified for the Europa League. A remarkable achievement.
It wasn't a one-season fluke though because Estoril went one better the following season by finishing fourth and only narrowly missing out on the Champions League.
His work didn't go unnoticed. He was appointed Sporting Lisbon boss in 2014 and guided them to a third-place finish before moving to Olympiacos.
Silva left Olympiacos in June 2016 for 'personal reasons' and just over six months later took up the challenge of trying to keep struggling Hull City in the Premier League.
Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson lambasted the Tigers' hierarchy for appointing Silva; claiming Silva's "not got a clue". He's been proving the critics wrong ever since.
Silva is now with Watford and has enjoyed a successful start to the 2017-18 campaign; yielding 18 points from his team's opening 12 games, achieving an impressive 2-1 win against Arsenal and a credible 3-3 draw with Liverpool in the process.
Embed from Getty Images
How has he done it? The same way he's done it throughout his career, claims Silva: "I started off with a small club in Portugal [Estoril], and achieved big things with offensive football. And then after I worked in two big clubs [Sporting Lisbon & Olympiacos] again with offensive football."
The Portuguese coach's philosophy has always been to put a team out that can play attractive, attacking, full-throttle football.
"We try to play, face-to-face with these teams, try to play offensive football with mobility as well. That is our philosophy." the Portuguese coach stated whilst chatting with Sky Sports' Geoff Shreeves last month.
Silva has also picked up a knack of finding bargains in the transfer market. His successful Estoril team was largely made up of free transfers and loan deals.
He's also brought Brazilian trickster Richarlison to Watford for £11.2m; a talented footballer who has looked like one of the most impressive players in the Premier League so far this season. Silva seems to possess the ability to find top-class players than no one else can find.
Silva is a manager that many think can go to the very top; which is probably why Everton are very keen on bringing him to Goodison Park. Watford fans will be desperately hoping that the former Sporting Lisbon manager doesn't jump ship and continues the work that he has started with the Hornets.
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