Shadab Iftikhar says he owes so much to Belgium manager Roberto Martinez for a rise in the game which has just seen him make Scottish football history.
British-Pakistani Ifthikar has just landed the manager's job at Highland League side Fort William in a move that will see him become the first British South Asian ever to manage in senior Scottish Football.
Preston-born Ifthikar has coached all over the world after deciding when he was a teenager that he would do whatever it took to become a manager. He worked as an opposition scout for Martinez at both Wigan and Everton and was also part of Belgium's backroom staff during Euro 2020.
Speaking about his relationship with Belgium boss Martinez, Ifthikar told Sky Sports News: "I don't have enough hours in the day to talk about what I've learned from the gaffer, he's just helped my career so much.
"Every time I speak to him, I pick up so much. He's the smartest man I've ever met. I'm grateful to him, to his staff - Shaun Maloney and Luke Benstead are brilliant people, they've helped me so much. And the gaffer, I am where I am today because of him.
"I've got nothing but the most respect for him. I did try and convince him to come and manage for a couple of months at Fort William, but that didn't go down very well! But hopefully, his advice will hold me in good stead and I can take a little bit of information I've learned over the years with him.
"He's an absolute gentleman, and, honestly, I cannot thank him enough for what he's done for me personally on and off the pitch."
Iftikhar's journey in the game has seen him manage at club level as far afield as Samoa - and Mongolia, where in a short space of time he progressed into the role of national team assistant manager.
"It's a tough country. I've got a lot of respect for the country, they gave me my first opportunity and I'll always hold that to my heart," he said.
"It was tough to go to a new country to adapt to a new culture, a new footballing way. When you've lived in England, Preston, your whole life is very different.
"But it was a great learning experience and you learn so much personally, but also as a manager. And then becoming involved in the national team was amazing - the support that you got was great and so was the travelling.
"It was just a great sort of gauge to where you are as a manager - and what an unbelievable experience. I look back at it with nothing but great memories. Honestly, it was one of the best times of my life."
