Watford boss Marco Silva has followed Jose Mourinho's path to become the Premier League most sought-after boss... so can he get one over his idol?

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He's gone from Marco who? to becoming the Premier League's most sought-after manager in less than 11 months – the new Jose Mourinho.

When Marco Silva was appointed to the basket-case of Hull City in January to become the third Portuguese coach to manage in the Premier League, he was ridiculed for his lack of experience of English football.

But despite inheriting a team shipping players and points on Humberside, he led an unlikely and nearly successful campaign against relegation before landing a job at Watford in the summer, steering them into the top eight to make him the No 1 target for Everton.

Jose Mourinho stands on the Old Trafford touchline during his battle with Marco Silva (right)

Mourinho will be hoping his side can get one over Silva's side at Watford on Tuesday night

Silva is now tipped for the very top like his compatriot Mourinho, whom he faces at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night when Manchester United are in town.

Silva is 40 years old, the same age as Mourinho when he first gained global attention for leading Porto to the UEFA Cup. The pair are friends and both seem to have the management X-factor. We look at the key areas in which the heir apparent has transformed the Hornets.

THE MAGIC OF MARCO...

MAN-MANAGEMENT

Watford have one of the most diverse dressing-rooms in the Premier League in terms of nationalities. Silva insists on players speaking English and is able to carry a natural command without the need to raise his voice.

In that respect, goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes has compared him to Guus Hiddink, whom he played for at PSV. 'He (Silva) is not the type of person who is going to shout at you, but there is still a sense of, "Oh, hold on. I cannot cross this line",' says the 36-year-old.

He is firm with his players at the training ground, looking them in the eye when delivering clear instructions and working them hard every day. But there is also an arm around the shoulder, literal and metaphorical, when needed. 

Silva worked wonders at OIympiacos before moving to the Premier League with Hull City

Silva's Hull City side were relegated from the top flight despite his best efforts

He has been impressive in helping understudy goalkeeper Oscar Karnezis since his nightmare performance off the bench against Everton cost Watford that match 3-2.

Silva is friends with ex-Chelsea and Spurs manager Andre-Villas Boas and admires Mourinho. He's not as spiky or defensive-minded as the original but similar in attention to detail and the way he can coax the best out of players.

Like Mourinho, he has a trusted set of backroom staff that he takes to every club with him, which also says a lot about the value he places on loyalty.

TACTICS

Silva was known as king of the counter-attack building his career in Portugal with Estoril and later in Greece where he won the championship at Olympiacos.

Watford have been a more expansive version of that philosophy. Silva places a great importance on speed, energy and high-pressing. But ultimately he'd like his team to dominate games by having possession of the ball.

The Hornets have been a hybrid of the two styles, carrying lots of pace to hurt teams in transition. But they are also encouraged to pass the ball, particularly against teams outside the top six.

Silva has got the best out of his squad - including Brazilian attacker Richarlison

Mourinho has been highly sought-after ever since leading Porto to Champions League glory

The statistics show Watford stand eighth in the Premier League table of completed passes with 439 per match. Only five teams have scored more than their 22 goals.

A hallmark of Silva's style is detail, also a strength of Mourinho whose first steps towards management was compiling dossiers on the opposition for Bobby Robson at Barcelona. 

Silva will look closely at the opposition and was hailed for a masterclass at Newcastle on Saturday where he identified the attacking instincts of Newcastle right back DeAndre Yedlin and compiled a plan that allowed Richarlison and left back Marvin Zeegelaar to run riot down that flank in a 3-0 Hornets win.

He can flip from Watford's traditional defensive three to four at the back when the situation requires it. He did it at during half-time at Swansea and was rewarded with a 2-1 victory.

He has added pace and mobility this season but is unafraid to change his approach at the right times, for example using the self-styled 'Equaliser' Troy Deeney to rough up Arsenal at Vicarage Road in October.

RECRUITMENT

Watford's success in recent years was based on a regular turnaround of managers with the club making the key signings, with technical director Filippo Giraldi, sporting director Luke Dowling and chairman Scott Duxbury influential figures.

It appears the arrival of Silva has seen a shift in the philosophy. They want him at Vicarage Road for the long-term – hence their determination to fight off Everton's advances – and Dowling's departure in August gave the manager more say, though Giraldi still has overall responsibility.

Many of Watford's summer signings Andre Gray, Tom Cleverley, Nathaniel Chalobah and Richarlison carry the Silva seal of approval because they bring speed and energy to the team.

Silva has made astute signings such as midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah and Richarlison

The Portuguese tactician also bought English talent Will Hughes during the summer window

Richarlison is the jewel in the crown and the fact that the 20-year-old Brazilian got a personal telephone call from Silva, a fellow Portuguese-speaker, persuading him to come to Watford rather than Ajax who were also interested underlines the manager's enthusiasm for the player.

However, Silva is smart enough to work within the Watford model. Giraldi is hugely-respected and has a global network of scouts that have seen the club pull off eye-catching signings like Roberto Pereyra.

'It's like a spy story. I don't like to give the names or where they are bases (of their scouts) but I can tell you we cover everywhere,' says Giraldi.

Silva understands the need for a balance between English and overseas players and there was a recruitment drive in the home market over the summer, Derby's Will Hughes has scored in Watford's last couple of games, with imports like Mauro Zarate and M'Baye Niang moving on. He knew all about Gray and endorsed his arrival so the club wouldn't be reliant on long-serving Deeney.

Silva still wanted more signings in the summer – don't all ambitious managers – but Watford spent well in the last window.

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Smart and clean-cut as Mourinho was at the start of his career, Silva isn't as spiky as the Manchester United manager but still adept at dictating the agenda.

He's a definite upgrade on Watford's manager last season Walter Mazzarri, whose lack of English meant he had to use a translator to conduct television interviews, something that frustrated Hornets fans who complained of a lack of transparency and communication at the club.

Silva is not flashy but able to make his point, both internally and to outsiders. When Troy Deeney received a glut of publicity for saying Arsenal lacked 'cojones' during their defeat at Vicarage Road, Silva made it clear he didn't appreciate his captain's lack of respect.

'He knows my opinion on this. He must look inside [the club] and not outside,' said Silva.

Watford are eighth in the Premier League after 13 games under the tutelage of Silva

Life begins at 40? Here's what Mourinho, pictured ahead of the UEFA Cup final in 2003, looked like at the current age of the Watford boss

The Hornets boss has been criticised for not committing himself to Watford more clearly amid Everton interest but you could see he's played a shrewd game in the glare of publicity not to shut down any options. And he will point out that the team hasn't been distracted by the rumours, winning comfortably against West Ham and Newcastle.

Silva is already on his fifth club as a manager and maybe his comments on the Everton job would rub up Watford fans the wrong way, but it'll be fine if he keeps on winning. It has been for Mourinho.