Not only was he refereeing his first Champions League final, but one featuring bitter rivals Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid in a rematch of the 2014 decider. 

Up one end was the most carded player in Champions League history in Sergios Ramos and the equally unscrupulous Pepe, up the other was Cristiano Ronaldo. 

There wasn’t even any respite on the touchline, which was patrolled by the famously explosive Diego Simeone.

Clattenburg dished out eight cards in 120 minutes, and successfully kept control of a clash which had more than its share of tense moments. 

“I didn’t referee personalities - all I wanted to do was to make sure I got as many calls correct as I could, but also try and manage the Champions League final to make players as calm as possible,” Clattenburg said. 

“If some of my decisions were questionable it just gets players a bit nervous, and the minute they get nervous they start doing things they don’t normally do, so my priority in the first 10 minutes was to try and calm the players down.

“It was my job to keep calm, keep composed and you ease your way through the match.

“After 10 minutes the game calmed down a bit, but there were flashpoints during the whole game you’ve got to deal with.

“I used all my management techniques from yellow cards, to smiles, to different facial expressions and it seemed to work.”

Nearly three years on and a world away from that night in Milan, Clattenburg found himself exploring Tasmania for the first time at the request of the state’s peak soccer body. 

The 43-year-old flew in last Friday and spent the weekend at the state refereeing conference in Launceston, sharing his wealth of experience with Tasmania’s up-and-coming officials, whom he hopes will eventually find their way into the A-League. 

“We get the chance to watch the A-League a lot through the English TV and the league is a good and strong league – it’s exciting, it’s very similar to the [English] Premier League and it’s played at a fast pace.”

The Apple Isle also got the tick of approval from the man who refereed the final of the European championships, FA Cup and Europa League in 2016. 

“It’s my first time in Tasmania - I’ve been to Australia few times,” he said. 

“I ended my refereeing career in Melbourne when I refereed Australia-Brazil, so I’ve got a special relationship with Australia.

“But to come to Tasmania is exciting because I’d never have dreamt to come to this part of the world, it’s a privilege to come here and the bits I’ve seen of Tasmania have been beautiful, there’s beautiful country.”

Clattenburg ended a 13-year stint in the EPL two years ago to become Saudi Arabia’s head of refereeing.