In February 2016 on this very day, Christian Fuchs was playing for a Leicester City side that had recently gone top of the Premier League - a position they wouldn't relinquish again that season as they secured the most unlikely title in English football history.
A decade later, the Austrian is in charge of the team at the very bottom of the English football pyramid. Newport County currently sit bottom of League Two, five points adrift of safety.
In mid-November, Fuchs felt a left-field appointment. He had been coaching out in North Carolina at Charlotte FC - where he also finished his playing career after leaving the Foxes.
The MLS season had just finished and he had been preparing for something slightly different to a League Two game at Rodney Parade.
"I was actually planning a family holiday in December, so I owe a big thank you to my wife for her support," Fuchs tells Sky Sports.
"In this business, you need a strong partner. It wasn't something I was actively seeking at that moment, especially after four years at Charlotte FC without much time off.
"But when an opportunity comes along, you have to grab it. My goal was always to return to this country and become a manager.
"It was a short-term decision, so everyone was surprised, including me! But they understand that in football, things can change overnight. We've been living this lifestyle for years, so they know it's not cancelled plans, just postponed ones.
But when the opportunity arose, my wife and children were fully supportive. My kids want their dad to be a manager and to win games, and having that support behind me means everything."
As well as support from his loved ones, Fuchs also called upon various contacts in the game to help assist him in his first senior management role.
Dean Smith had been manager at Charlotte when he was there, while he also contacted Brendan Rodgers - who had a previous working relationship with Newport County chairman Huw Jenkins from their time together at Swansea.
Fuchs laughs when it is put to him that he also tried to recruit his former team-mate Jamie Vardy to try and bolster his attacking options.
"I did call Jamie, but it was more of a joke," the Austrian says with a smile. "I knew the answer before I dialled. It was a short conversation and we quickly moved on!
"Of course, there are great memories from my time at Leicester City, but my full focus is on the players we have here. They have my complete trust. The recent home form, eight points from five games, shows that something positive is building."
Considering Newport hadn't won a game at home all season before Fuchs arrived, that turnaround is no mean feat. They have still struggled on the road, and it has been a slow burner trying to improve performances.
"Confidence was the main issue," Fuchs says. "Belief in their own ability and belief in the group. That became our early focus. Technically, I believe this is a top team that shouldn't be in its current position.
"The only way forward is to work hard, stay focused, and remain united. The players and staff have shown that commitment, and it's a great feeling to be part of that process."
Even with the daunting task at hand of trying to keep Newport County in the Football League, Fuchs' enthusiasm remains undimmed.
"I love this role," he says. "What drives me most is proving people wrong. Doubters are always loud when things aren't going well. That's been part of my life since I was young, people saying I wouldn't achieve certain things.
"Proving them wrong is an incredible feeling. That's my motivation here with Newport as well."
Fuchs knows from his experience as a player a decade go that commitment, working hard and a desire to silence those doubters can go a long, long way.