When Parma sacked coach Stefano Pioli in February, Claudio Ranieri was not the man people expected the relegation-threatened club to replace him with.
The former Valencia and Chelsea boss had spent most of the previous decade managing star-packed squads with ambitions of European and domestic glory.
The Parma job, on the other hand, presented a very different challenge - digging a team made up largely of promising youngsters out of desperate trouble.
Less than three months later, Parma have climbed up from second-from-bottom to 13th, three points above the relegation zone, and look good for another season in the top flight.
And Ranieri has proved his coaching skills are not limited to the glamorous side of the soccer world.
"No brakes on Parma, Ranieri Miracle," read a headline in Corriere della Sera Monday after Parma beat Cagliari 2-1 to register their fourth win in five games.
Ranieri is quick to stress though that his worries are not over yet.
"We have to keep our feet on the ground because now comes the difficult bit," he said on Monday, the day after his side beat Cagliari 2-1 to register their fourth win in five games.
"Before we were at peace with our desperation, now there are other psychological factors at play because our place in the standings is good enough to survive.
"But we have four cup finals ahead of us. We have to bring the ship back to port and there are still lots of rocks we could run aground on".
Ranieri credits the turnaround on his ability to instil belief and fighting spirit into his team.
"When I arrived I told the lads that it was possible to stay up and that they should not think I'm crazy to say so," the 55-year-old explained.
"I told them I'd seen their games on TV and that they were good players.
"But I was surprised by the fact that they did not fight. When Parma conceded a goal they gave themselves up for beaten. My words had a positive effect and we have managed to do something that seemed impossible two months ago".
Ranieri believes the experience he gained in the English and Spanish leagues has enriched him.
"When an Italian coach goes abroad he realizes that defence is not everything. Outside Italy, they think about imposing their own style of play.
"Spain is best. There they want defenders with velvet feet, who dribble and come forward".
Ranieri's ability to read a game and turn things around with smart substitutions has also been a major factor in Parma's revival.
On Sunday, for example, his decision to bring on midfielders Domenico Morfeo and Andrea Gasbarroni in the second half produced the winning goal.
Ranieri coached Chelsea from 2000 to 2004, leading the London giants to the Champions League semi-final in his last season at the club.
Before joining Parma he had not worked since 2005, when he was sacked as Valencia boss at the end of a disappointing second spell at the Spanish outfit.
The Rome-born coach won the Spanish Cup during his first stint at Valencia (1996-1998). He was in charge of Atletico Madrid for a spell during the 1999-2000 season too.
In Italy, he won an Italian Cup with Fiorentina (1993-97) and coached Napoli (1991-93) and Cagliari (1988-91).
He was a professional footballer with AS Roma, Catanzaro, Catania and Palermo in the 1970s and 80s.
Ranieri's contract with Parma runs until the end of the season. He has an option to renew if the team stay up.
Lazio and former Italy goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi announced Sunday that the goalless draw in the derby match against Roma was his last game.
The veteran said he will not play out the last four games of the season before retiring because of a finger fracture.
Peruzzi joined Lazio in 2000 after playing for Inter Milan, Juventus - where he won three Italian titles, a UEFA CUP and a Champions League - Verona and Roma.
The 37-year-old collected 31 Azzurri caps and was part of Italy's 2006 World Cup-winning squad, although he did not get a taste of the action.
