Sinisa Mihajlovic takes his Sampdoria side to Inter Milan on Wednesday night and says he would one day like to return permanently to the club where his coaching career began.
Having ended his playing career with Inter in 2006, the Serbian was taken under the wing of then-coach Roberto Mancini, working as assistant to the Italian.
He left the club in 2008 when Mancini was replaced by Jose Mourinho, becoming a coach in his own right at Bologna, before spells with Catania and Fiorentina preceded his appointment as manager of Serbia.
The 45-year-old was tempted back to Serie A by Sampdoria last November and he has guided the Genovese club away from danger and up to fourth, four points clear of the Nerazzurri, who they next visit.
"We are 10 points and 13 positions better off than we were at this same stage of last season, we've denied Roma victory and we're still unbeaten," Mihajlovic said at a news conference in Genoa. "Last year we faced Inter in [president Erick] Thohir's first game and we drew with them. This time, I hope to upset them."
Samp's transformation under Mihajlovic has not gone unnoticed, with many suggesting he is the primary candidate to replace Walter Mazzarri, should the current Inter coach fail to deliver on his club's lofty ambitions this season.
While being linked with such a position is an honour, the Blucerchiati boss says the timing is not right for him at the moment.
"Who wouldn't want to coach Inter?" he asked. "But I have a lot of respect for my colleagues and, at the moment, I prefer only to talk about my own job. Inter are like a family to me and I owe a lot to [former president Massimo] Moratti and all of the club.
"All that he has done remains in the history of the club, but now he has left his role and it's only right that a new president asserts his authority. Getting some distance was useful to Inter and a new phase is now beginning for them."