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"I’m not a defender of old or new football managers. I believe in good ones and bad ones, those that achieve success and those that don’t. Please don’t call me arrogant but I'm a European champion and I think I'm a special one" - Jose Mourinho.

Not every coach in the world tends to be as wondrous as the Special One himself. Or as gushing with self-praise. It is true to say that Mourinho has always been cut from a different cloth, although he's hardly alone in that regard when it comes to the best coaches in their chosen field.

Many are deeply eccentric. Some are superstitious, while others make a point of dispensing with the mystical and building their empires on relentless work and dedication. Most are respected by their players to the point of fear; the best ones are able to blend that persona with a soft touch when the moment requires a calming hand instead of a cold shoulder.

Trent Robinson, Ricky Stuart, Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett stand out from the crowd. Credit:AAP

Rugby league is no different and there is an argument to be made that the Greatest Game of All attracts some of the most complex, compulsive and perplexing characters in the business. Perhaps it is no surprise, then, that the teams left standing in the NRL season are run by coaches that all bring something a little left of centre to the round table.