For everybody associated with Adelaide United, life suddenly looks incredibly rosy. Having defeated Sydney FC 2-1 at Allianz Stadium on Friday night, the Reds sit proudly atop the A-League, safe in their position regardless of other results this weekend.
Yet of all the smiles to be found at Hindmarsh Stadium, few are likely to be broader than that of gaffer John Kosmina.
Nearly one year ago, the Reds were lingering near the foot of the A-League table, appearing to lack the tenacity and desire that was once a Hindmarsh staple.
United chairman Greg Griffin needed decisive action and sacked Dutch boss Rini Coolen, sending out a desperate cry for a candidate to bring passion and success back to his beloved club.
From the outset it only ever seemed that one man was capable of playing Lazarus and awakening the sleeping giant of Australian football.
For those who were familiar with Kosmina’s first reign as Reds boss, passion was a quality that could never be brought in to question.
Few could forget the infamous throat grabbing incident, which saw Kosmina come face to face on the touchline with the man so frequently the target of Reds fans jibes, Kevin Muscat.
Yet could this passion translate in to the success that so agonisingly eluded Kosmina throughout his first reign?
Early indications could not be more promising.
As Kosmina watches on with his trademark coffee in hand, his Adelaide side seem full of beans, playing a brand of football that is too hot for rivals to handle.
An impressive run in the Asian Champions League, that saw the Reds just miss out in the quarter finals, has been matched by an eye-catching start to the league campaign.
Perhaps most importantly, Kosmina seems to have gotten the absolute best out of marquee acquisition Dario Vidosic, whose superb start to the season has been rewarded with a Socceroos call-up.
The leaky defence that plagued United last term has also been revolutionised under the stewardship of Kosmina, conceding a miserly five goals in eight games so far this campaign.
Football is a funny game and from the jaws of success can often come defeat; one needs only ask Roberto Di Matteo.
Yet in a season that has been perhaps overshadowed by marquee players such as Del Piero and Heskey, United continue to grind out results that make them hard to ignore.
Whether success or failure waits, one thing is for certain; Kosmina is up for this challenge and will not die wondering.
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