Newcastle United skipper Fabricio Coloccini is proud manager Alan Pardew compared him with Bobby Moore last week.
The fit-again Toon skipper, who will start against West Brom at St James’ Park tomorrow, reckons his old man is the player he most wants to emulate.
Coloccini, 30, said: “I’m very proud the manager compared me to Bobby Moore.
“He is an important man in England, so it is very good to hear the manager say that.
“I have to say ‘thank you’ to the manager for that compliment because Bobby Moore was one of the best players ever to play for England.
“He’s famous in Argentina — he’s famous all over the world because he is one of the best footballers of all time.
“But it would have been nice for the manager to say 1978 World Cup winner Daniel Passarella! Although, I didn’t have only one hero as a kid.
“My biggest hero was my father, Osvaldo, because he played for 16 years in Argentina’s first division.
“My aim has always been to get to the level he was at.
“It is maybe easy to get to the first division, but not so easy to stay there for many years like he did.
“I can say I’m better when I have played 16 years at the top like he did.”