Uwe Rosler's aspiration has always been to return to English football's top table and he now believes he is in the "perfect" situation to do so after being appointed Wigan manager.
The German made his name on these shores as a prolific striker for Manchester City in the top flight during the 1990s, a period in his career for which he is still fondly remembered among their fraternity.
However, when he turned his hand to management in this country, it was at League One Brentford where he first landed after spells with three Norwegian clubs.
Now the 45-year-old, whose last experience of the then-Premiership came with Southampton in 2001, wants to return Latics to the division they spent eight seasons in prior to May's relegation.
"For me this is the perfect opportunity, the perfect job," he said at his first press conference.
"I believe I can fully fulfil my dreams and ambitions to end up where I was as a player: on top of English football."
Rosler was two steps away from the proverbial promised land while at the Brentford helm, although only the width of the crossbar prevented them being promoted and joining Wigan in the Sky Bet Championship this season.
Then, following Owen Coyle's "mutual departure" from the DW Stadium seven days ago, an opportunity to return to the region where his family are based presented itself.
Rosler, who was given permission to talk to Wigan on Thursday night and confirmed as the new boss two days later, added: "I'm very excited but also exhausted because the last three days have been very hectic. It came a little bit out of the blue, I didn't expect it.
"My former club Brentford were very helpful, they understood the situation when such a big club like Wigan Athletic come in for me and give me such a good opportunity."
The Coyle era is hardly one which will be fondly remembered by the FA Cup holders as, just six months after claiming he was the best man for the job, chairman Dave Whelan parted company with a boss he claimed did not get on with him, the fans or the players.
Those three groups were suffering from a post-Roberto Martinez hangover as Coyle struggled to replicate the style and results which earned the Spaniard, now in charge of Everton, and his team such universal acclaim.
Wigan fans will be excited by Rosler's promise to instil a similar attacking philosophy, although the new manager is adamant he wants to cement his own legacy.
"Roberto left big footprints for anyone to follow," he admitted.
"I want to find my own style of football; I like to play the ball on the ground, I like to play the ball quick, I like to play forward and I want to commit with bodies going forward.
"I need a lot of energy in the team, I need the wingers to attack and in some ways we (Rosler and Martinez) are similar, in other ways we are probably not similar. I want to be known for my own style of football."
He inherits a team 14th in the table, nine points off the play-offs and on a run of five successive defeats in all competitions, the most recent of which he was present for as Wigan fell to a 2-1 loss against Millwall on Saturday.
Whelan has targeted a return to the Premier League in two seasons under the new regime but Rosler holds hope his dream can be realised sooner than that.
"At the moment we are in a difficult run of results, we have to change that," he said.
"We have to get out of this habit of losing games and we have to change that momentum as soon as possible.
"I have a very talented squad of players, I'm looking to play a 4-3-3; the players are very familiar with the formation from the past, from Roberto.
"Every player can show themselves now until the transfer window opens, everyone can impress."
Source: PA
