Former Brighton star Andrea Orlandi is delighted seeing manager Roberto De Zerbi succeed at Falmer stadium.
Orlandi is proud seeing a fellow Italian make his mark.
He told the club's website: Me and the analyst used to watch Roberto De Zebri's training sessions when he was the coach at Foggia in the Italian third tier, and the analyst would say 'this guy is amazing'. When you saw the clips of his Foggia team play, you knew the coach was going to be amazing.
Then he went to Benevento and Sassuolo. In Serie A he was able to play a style of football that they would usually say no to - "this isn't how you should play" attacking and looking after the ball. In Italy, 80 per cent of the teams play the same style; the same pattern of play 'give the ball to the wing-back and he will run' every team does the same.
By being provocative at times is how he became successful at Sassuolo. Then the way he spoke as well in his press conferences, he was so sure of himself.
He's a fantastic motivator and coach, he's the next big thing in football. It's great to have him at the club and hopefully Albion will be able to keep him for a long while. He's impressed me, but he has probably gone beyond my early expectations."