The national manager of Georgia, Temuri Ketsbaia, took time out from his country’s preparations for their Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland to visit his old stomping ground at Dens Park.
The 44-year-old spent much of the 2001-2002 season with Dundee and the club still holds a special place in his heart.
He admitted that he would now like nothing more than for the present-day Dark Blues to consolidate their position in the Premiership and then kick on to win some silverware.
Ketsbaia, who also played for Newcastle and Wolves, said: “I was five years in this country but I would say I played my best football in Britain at Dundee. I was made to feel I was an important player to the club and this helped me to play my best football.
“I also scored a few goals and I really enjoyed it.
“I had a great season and it was sad that I couldn’t stay for another year as unfortunately I injured my knee playing for the national team.
“It was difficult for me to come back and play here but it is now nice to return to the area where I played before. I hope the club continues to grow, do well and hopefully win some trophies.
“They started well this season but your first year back in the Premiership, you just have to ensure you stay in the league.
“I don’t think it will be a problem for Dundee to do it and after that they can build slowly you cannot build a team in one year.
“The fans are coming out in big numbers. When you get good results, they will come more and more.”
When Ketsbaia was at Dens, there was a real international flavour to the team with the likes of Juan Sara, Fabian Caballero and Beto Carranza in the squad.
However, when he was asked who the big characters were in the dressing-room, he did not hesitate to name two Scots, skipper Barry Smith and striker Steven Milne.
He said: “Barry our captain was a big character. Where is he now?”
When told that Smith is currently boss of Alloa, Ketsbaia said: “A manager, very good. Barry was a great character and a very nice guy on and off the pitch. I wish him all the best.
“Steven Milne was also a good lad and it is great that so many of the team continue to be involved in football.”
Ketsbaia was a big fans’ favourite during his time with Dundee but he is still irked that he missed out on a clean sweep of nominations for player of the year to one of those “big characters” in the dressing-room.
He said: “We went to some of the different supporters’ club player of the year dinners.
“I don’t know how many nominations I got but I missed only one. It went to Milne. You see I remember that I got them all apart from one!
“But it was nice to receive the recognition from the fans.”
Ketsbaia admitted he has been impressed by the job another former Dundee player, Gordon Strachan, has been doing as manager of Scotland and he believes they did not deserve to lose their opening Euro qualifier against Germany last month.
The Scots will start as favourites at Ibrox on Saturday but the Georgian boss insists his side should not be underestimated.
He added: “It is a difficult game. We saw Scotland play really well against Germany and they didn’t deserve to lose the game.
“We have difficulties in our country now as football is not what it was like 15 or 20 years ago. Then we had players in the Bundesliga, the Premier League, in Serie A, Spain and Holland.
“Now most of our players play in Georgia and Russia. But we have never been an easy opponent for anyone.
“We always try hard and I am looking forward to the game and hopefully we will take something from it.
“We have shown in previous games that we can get results against teams that are better than Scotland.”
Ketsbaia, of course, will forever be remembered for a famous goal celebration while he was at Newcastle when he threw his shirt into the crowd and then kicked out at advertising boards.
When asked if Georgia were to win at Ibrox would he lash out any advertising boards, he smiled and replied: “No, only as a player.”