Felipe Contepomi has followed the fortunes of Leinster rugby closely since he left the province back in 2009.
His "team in Europe" have done pretty well since his departure. Leinster were the European champions the year he left for Toulon - the Argentinean missed the Heineken Cup final victory over Leicester Tigers due to a knee injury - and a decade later that's a status they still enjoy having lifted the Champions Cup in May.
The Pro14 title followed, and Contepomi, who returned to the club as backs coach in June, said coming back was an easy decision.
"I had a few propositions and obviously when they told me about Leinster it was my first choice," he told RTÉ Sport's Michael Corcoran.
"When you go into a club, especially in coaching, you need to know what is the culture. For me, Leinster is... how rugby should be played.
"I've followed them since I left. It's one thing when you see it from the outside, it's another when you come and live it and see it from the inside. The way Leinster has moved forward is unbelievable."
Heavy is the head that wears the crown and Leinster are fully aware they are the team everyone in Europe wants to beat.
Leo Cullen has a dazzlingly talented squad to choose from but Contepomi warned they will have to get even better to stay at the summit.
"It's not about forgetting about last year; it's about improving what you done. Every team in Europe wants to beat you, every team in the Pro14 wants to beat you.
"You are the reigning champions. There's no soft week, soft game or soft team. It's a huge challenge but we've got a great squad.
"The infrastructure and the set-up Leinster have got, the players and the squad, it's unbelievable. Hopefully it keeps on growing. That's the biggest challenge."
Contepomi also spoke of the inspiration he's taken from the "genius" of his compatriot Marcelo Bielsa.
Leeds United, one of English soccer's great sleeping giants, pulled off a coup when they lured Bielsa to Elland Road. He has managed the Argentina and Chile nationals sides and been cited as a huge influence on the likes of Pep Guardiola and Mauricio Pellegrini, though his methods are somewhat unconventional.
Leeds fans won't care as long as they keep up their early-season form - they've won their first two games in the Championship with a of free-flowing, attacking style that's turned heads everywhere.
"I'm more of a Bielsa fan [than a Leeds fan]," added Contepomi.
"I think he's one of those guys that back in Argentina they call him 'loco', the crazy man. But I think being crazy or a genius, the difference is we don't understand the crazy people. Every genius has been treated as a crazy man.
"People might say Bielsa is crazy, but he's unbelievable in the way he thinks, his ethic, the way he wants to achieve.
"His way of coaching and teaching is unbelievable."
